of a shelf on the wall where books and papers were stacked.
“They’re here,” she said.
“It’s the boy from the inn, isn’t it? Him and his little cronies. I know it is. I can smell them.”
“The very same,” she answered. “Delivered to your door, sire.”
“Ahh, bless you, Esther. You still have your uses, eh!” Jarvis grinned and patted her head gently.
She had been there all along. Watching and waiting. In the low light she had gone unnoticed. Why had they been so careless? Pip was angry with himself. Surely by now he had learned to wander around the hollow with his eyes wide open.
Pip and Frankie were curled up with Toad almost sitting right on top of them. Pip had Captain Dooley cupped in both hands, holding on to him tight.
Jarvis threw off his cloak and began to search, cursing them as he went. “Come here, little piggies. Didn’t Mummy tell you it isn’t nice to steal other people’s toys?” It was dark but there was little space and not much to search amongst. He would have them by their throats within minutes.
“Come along, my pesky little city rats,” he pleaded. “Come to Uncle Jarvis.” He was full of excitement. Those kids had haunted his dreams for the past three months. He could not have hoped that they would walk right into his hands. It really was turning out to be the perfect evening.
“Tell me, oh dear Captain, where are the three little birds?”
Pip was too late. He heard the voice coming but he was so shocked that he was unable to do anything.
“Three little birds, nesting in the cupboard.”
Jarvis moved to the corner of the room. He placed his hook on the large doorknob and flicked it open. A nasty smile announced his delight. Their pathetic, sorrowful little eyes stared up at him. Their wizened little figures curled up in a nest like newborn rats. Shrinking further back into the corner, they shook in fright as Jarvis speared his hook into the wooden panel that formed the back of the cupboard, missing their heads by a fraction.
A bang came at the door. It was so loud that it stopped Jarvis in his tracks. He pushed the cupboard door so that it was almost shut and then he went to uncover the source of the nuisance. Horses could be heard outside and the banging quickly became louder and more persistent. Voices followed. Loud shouts. Before Jarvis had reached it, the door came inward, flying off its hinges and spinning into the space that made the parlor before ending up flat on the floor.
It was none other than Hector Stubbs.
“Jarvis. I have a warrant for your arrest.”
It was a shame that the children were huddled together with their eyes shut. It would have been a treat for them to have seen Jarvis so frightened. He was pinned into a corner with Stubbs staring into his eyes, pressing him firmly and not caring too much for weak excuses.
In the mayhem their presence had gone unnoticed and Toad had slowly pulled the cupboard door shut toconceal their company. Captain Dooley’s mouth was held tight.
“Mister Jarvis, do you realize that dealing with the woodsfolk is an act of treason?”
“I haven’t dealt with the woodsfolk, sir, I promise. I go to the woods to look for children.”
“When I prove that you’re lying, Jarvis, I’ll make sure you swing at the gallows. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m going to ask you again, have you delivered children to the forest and taken money from the woodsfolk?”
“No, sir.”
“Mister Jarvis. You’re lying. I can see right through you. You’re hollow on the inside, do you know that? Empty-headed. You don’t think straight and I’m going to prove it.”
Jarvis tried to remain calm but he was shifting awkwardly on his seat and he was finding it impossible to keep his hands still. He fidgeted with the hem of his cloak.
“Earlier you discovered a young girl in the street. When the parents resisted, holding on to their young one, you were helped by guards, who fended away the
“They’re here,” she said.
“It’s the boy from the inn, isn’t it? Him and his little cronies. I know it is. I can smell them.”
“The very same,” she answered. “Delivered to your door, sire.”
“Ahh, bless you, Esther. You still have your uses, eh!” Jarvis grinned and patted her head gently.
She had been there all along. Watching and waiting. In the low light she had gone unnoticed. Why had they been so careless? Pip was angry with himself. Surely by now he had learned to wander around the hollow with his eyes wide open.
Pip and Frankie were curled up with Toad almost sitting right on top of them. Pip had Captain Dooley cupped in both hands, holding on to him tight.
Jarvis threw off his cloak and began to search, cursing them as he went. “Come here, little piggies. Didn’t Mummy tell you it isn’t nice to steal other people’s toys?” It was dark but there was little space and not much to search amongst. He would have them by their throats within minutes.
“Come along, my pesky little city rats,” he pleaded. “Come to Uncle Jarvis.” He was full of excitement. Those kids had haunted his dreams for the past three months. He could not have hoped that they would walk right into his hands. It really was turning out to be the perfect evening.
“Tell me, oh dear Captain, where are the three little birds?”
Pip was too late. He heard the voice coming but he was so shocked that he was unable to do anything.
“Three little birds, nesting in the cupboard.”
Jarvis moved to the corner of the room. He placed his hook on the large doorknob and flicked it open. A nasty smile announced his delight. Their pathetic, sorrowful little eyes stared up at him. Their wizened little figures curled up in a nest like newborn rats. Shrinking further back into the corner, they shook in fright as Jarvis speared his hook into the wooden panel that formed the back of the cupboard, missing their heads by a fraction.
A bang came at the door. It was so loud that it stopped Jarvis in his tracks. He pushed the cupboard door so that it was almost shut and then he went to uncover the source of the nuisance. Horses could be heard outside and the banging quickly became louder and more persistent. Voices followed. Loud shouts. Before Jarvis had reached it, the door came inward, flying off its hinges and spinning into the space that made the parlor before ending up flat on the floor.
It was none other than Hector Stubbs.
“Jarvis. I have a warrant for your arrest.”
It was a shame that the children were huddled together with their eyes shut. It would have been a treat for them to have seen Jarvis so frightened. He was pinned into a corner with Stubbs staring into his eyes, pressing him firmly and not caring too much for weak excuses.
In the mayhem their presence had gone unnoticed and Toad had slowly pulled the cupboard door shut toconceal their company. Captain Dooley’s mouth was held tight.
“Mister Jarvis, do you realize that dealing with the woodsfolk is an act of treason?”
“I haven’t dealt with the woodsfolk, sir, I promise. I go to the woods to look for children.”
“When I prove that you’re lying, Jarvis, I’ll make sure you swing at the gallows. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m going to ask you again, have you delivered children to the forest and taken money from the woodsfolk?”
“No, sir.”
“Mister Jarvis. You’re lying. I can see right through you. You’re hollow on the inside, do you know that? Empty-headed. You don’t think straight and I’m going to prove it.”
Jarvis tried to remain calm but he was shifting awkwardly on his seat and he was finding it impossible to keep his hands still. He fidgeted with the hem of his cloak.
“Earlier you discovered a young girl in the street. When the parents resisted, holding on to their young one, you were helped by guards, who fended away the
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