So sinister an incident was a matter for immediate enquiry. The Principal was horror-stricken. Girls, teachers, and servants were questioned, but nobody admitted anything. The lamp, indeed, proved to be one which Miss Duckworth had missed from her bicycle several days before. It was known that she had been lamenting its loss. Whether the light had been put as a signal or as a practical joke it was impossible to say, but if it had been noticed by a special constable it would have placed Brackenfield in danger of an exceedingly heavy fine. Everybody was extremely indignant. It was felt that such an unpleasant episode cast a reflection upon the school. It was naturally the one subject of conversation. "Have we a spy in our midst?" asked Winifrede Mason darkly. "If it really was a practical joke, then whoever did it needs hounding out of the place." "She'll meet with scant mercy when she's found!" agreed Meg Hutchinson. Marjorie said nothing at all. Her brain was in a whirl. The events of the afternoon rose up like a spectre and haunted her. She felt she needed a confidante. At the earliest possible moment she sought Chrissie alone, and told her how she had run up into the Observatory and seen Miss Norton there. "Do you think it's possible Norty could have lighted that lamp?" she asked. Chrissie whistled. "It looks rather black against her certainly. What was she doing up in the Observatory?" "She put something inside a box." "Did you see what it was?" "No." "It might have been a bicycle lamp?" "It might have been anything as far as I can tell." "Did she strike a match as if lighting a lamp?" "No, but of course she might have put the lamp inside the box and then come up at dusk to light it." Chrissie shook her head and whistled again softly. She appeared to be thinking. "Ought I to tell the Empress?" ventured Marjorie. "Not unless you want to get yourself into the very biggest row you've ever had in your life!" "Why?" "Why? Don't you see, you silly child, that Norty would deny everything and throw all the blame upon you? Naturally the Empress would ask: 'What were you doing in the Observatory?' Even if she didn't suspect you of putting the light there yourself--which it is quite possible she might--she'd punish you for breaking bounds; and when you've only just been in trouble already----" "It's not to be thought of," interrupted Marjorie quickly. "You're quite right, Chrissie. The Empress would be sure to side with Norty and blame me. I'd thought of going and telling her, and I even walked as far as the study door, but I was too frightened to knock. I'm glad I asked you about it first." "Of course the whole business may be a rag. It's the kind of wild thing some of those silly Juniors would do." "It may; but, on the other hand, the light may have been a signal. It seems very mysterious." "Don't tell anybody else what you've told me."