Carbonel and Calidor Read Online Free PDF

come and go in the little house that smells of wickedness?’
    â€˜Yes, I suppose so,’ said Rosemary doubtfully. ‘There was rather a funny smell. I thought it was just the flower water needed changing.’
    â€˜Then you and John are the only ones who can help,’ said Carbonel. ‘But there,’ he went on reproachfully. ‘Now you are going away and leaving me in the lurch. I heard you talking about it on the way from the bus.’
    â€˜We aren’t leaving anyone in the lurch!’ said John indignantly. ‘Rosie and I are going to stay with my uncle at Highdown. It was arranged ages ago. Miss Dibdin, that’s the short fat one, is going there as well, and she’s taking Crump ... I mean Calidor with her.’
    â€˜She is? And you will be there too?’ said Carbonel, leaping to his feet. ‘Then everything’s settled!’ His splendid white whiskers, which had been drooping unhappily, suddenly rose, as the spokes rise when you put up your umbrella.
    â€˜Wait a minute!’ said John. ‘What’s settled?’
    Carbonel went on as though he had not heard.
    â€˜You realize that I have important affairs of state to attend to, and that I can’t go on gallivanting off for days on end. I’ve already been away too long. Besides, I’m getting old and stiff in the joints. But now that you are taking over ...’
    â€˜Taking over?’ said Rosemary. ‘I don’t think ...’
    But Carbonel swept on. ‘I shall allow you twenty-four hours to make contact with Calidor and persuade him to return. Then I shall visit you at Highdown, so that you can report progress.’ He held up a restraining paw as John tried to interrupt again. ‘Keep the Golden Gew-Gaw, as you call it, within sight or feel. In the wrong hands, someone who does not know its powers, it might be a deadly danger, and besides ...’
    â€˜Oh do listen!’ said John in an exasperated voice. ‘What on earth do you expect us to do? And this magic ring, is it ...?’
    He broke off as the kitchen door opened behind them. Both John and Rosemary turned round. It was Mrs Featherstone.
    â€˜Hallo, dears!’ she said. ‘I didn’t hear you come back. Oh, Rosie, your coat just thrown on the floor! How many times have I told you to hang up your things when you come in. And one of the saucers from the best tea-set on the floor too. What on earth are you both doing waving your hands in the air?’ She laughed, and John and Rosemary hurriedly disengaged their fingers. It was John who slipped the ring in his pocket this time.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Mum,’ said Rosemary. ‘About the coat and the saucer, but you see ...’ She turned. Carbonel was nowhere to be seen. She picked up her coat from the floor. There were only a few black hairs clinging to its surface to show where he had been sitting, and the gentle swinging of the casement window to show how he had gone.
    â€˜All right, never mind. But do try to remember, dear,’ said her mother. ‘You might lay the table for supper, will you? Fish fingers and jam tart to follow. I’ll be back in a minute.’ She closed the door behind her.
    Rosemary looked at John. His face was red, and he began slapping knives and forks on the table in a cross sort of way.
    â€˜What’s the matter?’ she asked.
    â€˜Matter?’ exploded John. ‘I’m blowed if I’m going to be bossed about by a mere cat!’
    â€˜He isn’t “mere”,’ said Rosemary indignantly. ‘He’s Carbonel.’
    â€˜I don’t care who he is!’ said John. ‘If he thinks we’re going to spend all our time at Highdown looking for his wretched Calidor, he’s got another think coming!’
    â€˜But if he wants us to help him it would be beastly not to try!’ said Rosemary hotly.
    â€˜My good girl,’ snapped John. ‘What on earth can we