CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Phenomenon
I
n
the depths of the Professor’s study, a cool old-fashioned room with stamped plaster walls striped with unstained oak beams, Penny and Mr Campion listened to an extraordinary story.
“I don’t want you to get me wrong,” said the Professor, as he knelt down before an exquisite old lowboy and unlocked the bottom drawer. “I admit I’ve been poking my nose into other people’s business and I’ve been trespassing. Way over across the water we don’t mind if we do set our feet in a neighbour’s back garden,” he added slyly.
Penny looked profoundly uncomfortable. “Don’t tease us about that, Professor,” she said pleadingly. “That was just an unfortunate accident. Aunt Di made it awkward all round, and Father was silly about the Gypsies.”
The Professor paused with his
