"The deeds will be signed in about a week's time," was the answer.
"So if you really want to spend a day or two there, you'd better do so quickly, for after that you may not get permission from the new owners."
"Was it the man who bought the old box who wants to buy the island?" asked Julian.
"Yes", said his uncle.
"I was a little surprised myself, for I thought he was just a buyer of old things.
It was astonishing to me that he should get the idea of buying the island to rebuild the castle as a hotel.
Still, I dare say there will be big money in running an hotel there— very romantic, staying on a little island like that— people will like it.
I'm no businessman myself, and I certainly shouldn't care to invest my money in a place like Kirrin Island.
But I should think he knows what he is doing all right."
"Yes, he certainly does," thought Julian to himself, as he went out of the room with Dick and Anne.
"He's read that map— and has jumped to the same idea that we did—the store of hidden ingots is somewhere on that island—and he's going to get it!
He doesn't want to build an hotel!
He's after the treasure!
I expect he's offered Uncle Quentin some silly low price that poor old uncle thinks is marvellous!
Oh dear— this is a horrible thing to happen."
He went to find George. She was in the tool-shed, looking quite green.
She said she felt sick.
"It's only because you're so upset," said Julian. He slipped his arm round her.
For once in a way George didn't push it away.
She felt comforted.
Tears came into her eyes, and she angrily tried to blink them away.
"Listen, George!" said Julian.
"We mustn't give up hope.
We'll go to Kirrin Island tomorrow, and we'll do our very, very best to get down into the dungeons somehow and find the ingots.
We'll jolly well stay there till we do.
See? Now cheer up, because we'll want your help in planning everything.
Thank goodness we took a tracing of the map."
George cheered up a little.
She still felt angry with her father and mother, but the thought of going to Kirrin Island for a day or two, and taking Timothy too, certainly seemed rather good.
"I do think my father and mother are unkind," she said.
"Well, they're not really," said Julian, wisely.
"After all, if they need money badly, they would be silly not to part with something they think is quite useless.
And you know, your father did say you could have anything you want.
I know what I would ask for, if I were you!"
"What?" asked George.
"Timothy, of course!" said Julian.
And that made George smile and cheer up tremendously!
Chapter Eleven OFF TO KIRRIN ISLAND
JULIAN and George went to find Dick and Anne.
They were waiting for them in the garden, looking rather upset.
They were glad to see Julian and George and ran to meet them.
Anne took George's hands.
"I'm awfully sorry about your island, George," she said.
"So am I," said Dick.
"Bad luck, old girl—I mean, old boy!"
George managed to smile.
"I've been behaving like a girl," she said, half-ashamed.
"But I did get an awful shock."
Julian told the others what they had planned.
"We'll go tomorrow morning," he said.