Chapter 3 ANNOYING NEWS
The four children and Timmy trooped down the stairs together. George's mother was in the hall, justgoing to call them.
'Oh, there you are,' she said. 'Well, I suppose you heard that you're wanted in the study. I'm comingtoo. And listen - please don't make any more fuss than you can help. I've had quite enough fuss madeby Quentin!'
This was very mysterious! What had Aunt Fanny to do with whatever trouble there was? Into thestudy went the Five, Timmy too, and saw Uncle Quentin standing¹ on the hearthrug looking as blackas thunder.
'Quentin, I could have told the children,' began his wife, but he silenced her with a scowl² exactly likethe one George sometimes put on.
'I've got something to say to you,' he began. 'You remember those two friends of mine - scientistsworking on a scheme with me - you remember the big American?'
'Yes,' said everyone.
'He gave us a whole pound,' said Anne.
Uncle Quentin took no notice of that remark. 'Well,' he said, 'he's got a daughter - let's see now -she's got some silly name...'
'Berta,' said his wife.
'Don't interrupt me,' said Uncle Quentin. 'Yes, Berta. Well, Elbur, her father, has been warned thatshe's going to be kidnapped.'
'Whatever for?' said Julian, amazed.
'Because it so happens that her father knows more secrets about a new scheme we're planning thananyone else in the world,' said his uncle. 'And he says, quite frankly³, that if this girl - what's her namenow...'
'Berta,' said everyone, obligingly.
'That if this Berta is kidnapped, he will give away every single secret he knows to get her back,'
said Uncle Quentin. 'Pah! What's he made of? Traitor⁴ to us all! How can he even think of givingaway secrets for the sake of a silly girl?'
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'Quentin, she's his only child and he adores her,' said Aunt Fanny. 'I should feel the same aboutGeorge.'
'Women are always soft and silly,' said her husband, in a tone of great disgust. 'It's a good thing youdon't know any secrets - you'd give them away to the milkman!'
This was so ridiculous that the children laughed. Uncle Quentin glared at them.
'This is no laughing matter. It has been a great shock to me to be told by one of the leading scientistsof the world that he feels certain he might give all our secrets to the enemy if this -this...'
'Berta,' said everyone again, at once.

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