Through the counting one could hear a
creaking, rustling sound.
"Forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty!" said Gerald, and they
opened their eyes.
They were alone in the room. The jewels had vanished and so had
the Princess.
"She's gone out by the door, of course," said Jimmy, but the door
was locked.
"That is magic," said Kathleen breathlessly. "Maskelyne and
Devant can do that trick, said Jimmy. "And I want my tea."
"Your tea!" Gerald's tone was full of contempt. "The lovely
Princess, he went on, "reappeared as soon as our hero had finished
counting fifty. One, two, three, four ,"
Gerald and Kathleen had both closed their eyes. But somehow
Jimmy hadn't. He didn't mean to cheat, he just forgot. And as
Gerald's count reached twenty he saw a panel under the window
open slowly.
"Her," he said to himself. "I knew it was a trick!" and at once shut
his eyes, like an honourable little boy.
On the word "fifty" six eyes opened. And the panel was closed and
there was no Princess.
"She hasn't pulled it off this time," said Gerald. "Perhaps you'd
better count again," said Kathleen. "I believe there's a cupboard
under the window," said Jimmy, "and she's hidden in it. Secret
panel, you know."
"You looked! That's cheating," said the voice of the Princess so
close to his ear that he quite jumped.
"I didn't cheat."
"Where on earth What ever ," said all three together.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55