“What was it you wanted to ask us, Sir?” enquired the elder youth, pompously interrupting Lobbie.

“Oh, quite a simple thing, Mr. Weevil. I was only wondering if Miss Malakite was out here today.”

“Certainly she’s here, Sir. Certainly she is.”

“Us came along o’ she, on our bicycles,” threw in Lobbie.

“Where is she now, then?” Wolf insisted.

“She went castle-way, I think, Mr. Solent,” said Bob Weevil.

“She said to we,” interjected Lobbie, “that her reckoned she’d have a quiet stroll-like, long o’ they ruings.”

Wolf looked from one to the other. “So, in plain words, you deserted Miss Malakite?” he said sternly.