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hisglasses. “I expect because I walled up that—er—that chest in there myself. It’s a kind of wooden box decorated with valuable inlaid intarsia work, an antique from the early eighteenth century that belonged to your grandfather.”
    “And what’s in it?” I asked, finding that I could speak again at last.
    Mr. Bernard looked at me with reproof in his eyes. “Naturally it was not for me to ask that question.I simply hid the chest here on behalf of your grandfather.”
    “He can’t try telling me that,” said Xemerius grumpily. “Not when he goes around poking his nose into everything else. And slinking along here after lulling a person into a false sense of security with cold chicken. But it’s all your fault, you silly watering can! If you had believed me, the senile old sleepwalker could never have takenus by surprise!”
    “I will of course be happy to help you to extricate the chest again,” Mr. Bernard went on. “But preferably this evening, when your grandmother and aunt will be on their way to the meeting of the ladies of the Rotary Club. So I suggest that we all go back to bed now. After all, you two have to go to school later.”
    “Yes, and meanwhile he’ll hack the thing out of the wall himself,”said Xemerius. “Then he can get his hands on the diamonds and leave a few withered old walnuts for us to find. I know his sort.”
    “Don’t be daft,” I muttered. If Mr. Bernard had wanted to do anything like that, he could have done it long ago, because no one else knew a thing about that chest. What on earth could be in it for Grandpa to have wanted it bricked up inside his own house?
    “Why do youwant to help us?” asked Nick bluntly, getting in ahead of me with that question.
    “Because I’m good with a hammer and chisel,” said Mr. Bernard. And he added, even more quietly, “And because your grandfather, unfortunately, can’t be here to help Miss Gwyneth.”
    Suddenly I felt it hard to breathe again, and I had to fight back tears. “Thanks,” I murmured.
    “Don’t get hopeful too soon. I’m afraidthat the key to the chest has … has been lost. And I really don’t know that I can bring myself to take a sledgehammer to such a beautiful and valuable antique,” said Mr. Bernard, sighing.
    “Meaning you’re not going to tell our mum and Lady Arista anything?” asked Nick.
    “Not if you go to bed now.” I saw Mr. Bernard’s teeth flash in the darkness again before he turned and went back up the steps.“Good night, and try to get some sleep.”
    “Good night, Mr. Bernard,” Nick and I murmured.
    “The old villain!” said Xemerius. “He needn’t think I’m letting him out of my sight.”

 
    The Circle of Blood its perfection will find,
    The philosopher’s stone shall eternity bind.
    New strength will arise in the young at that hour,
    Making one man immortal, for he holds the power.
    But beware: when the twelfth star shows its own force,
    His life here on earth runs its natural course.
    And if youth is destroyed, then the oak tree will stand
    To the end of all time, rooted fastin the land.
    As the star dies, the eagle arises supreme,
    Fulfilling his ancient and magical dream.
    For a star goes out in the sky above,
    If it freely chooses to die for love.
    F ROM THE SECRET WRITINGS OF C OUNT S AINT- G ERMAIN

 
    TWO
    “ WELL ?” CYNTHIA DALE, who was in our class at school, had planted herself in front of us with her hands on her hips, elbows pointing out, thus barring our way up to the first floor. Other students, who had to push past to the right or left of us, were complaining of the traffic jam. Cynthia was twisting the ugly tie that was part of the St. Lennox High School uniform in her fingers, andshe had a stern expression on her face. “What are your costumes going to be like?” It would be her birthday at the weekend, and she’d asked us to the costume party she gave every year.
    She was getting on our nerves. Lesley shook her head. “Did you know