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corner, a massive mountain of Fluffies in their boxes, covered by an old sheet.
    Sophie grabbed three Fluffies from under the sheet. “Should we take these downstairs?”
    Sam didn’t reply. He was staring around him. “‘ High in an old place… Hidden on a dusty shelf.’ Sophie!” he said suddenly. “I bet the gem’s in this room!”
    Sophie’s stomach flipped. Maybe he was right. “Let’s ask Mr Badgett if we can tidy up here!”
    They raced back downstairs. Mr Badgett wasjust cashing up the till and Grandpa was standing by the front door. “Are you ready to go, you two?” he said. “Jack’s shutting up now.”
    â€œShutting up?” Sophie’s heart sank.
    â€œYes, thank you for your help.” Mr Badgett handed Sophie and Sam a two-pound coin each from the till. “You’ve done a wonderful job.”
    Sam shot Sophie a look. “Can we come back tomorrow after school and tidy the attic?” he blurted out.
    â€œWhy – of course you can,” said Mr Badgett, looking surprised. “It could certainly do with a good sort-out up there.”
    Sophie saw Grandpa’s eyes narrow thoughtfully as he gazed at them. “Tell you what, Jack,” he said suddenly. “Why don’t you and I go for a quick drink and leave Sophie andSam here to do a bit more tidying? I’ve got my mobile so they can ring me if they need us. We can lock the front door, but leave the back door unlocked in case they need to get out in an emergency.”
    â€œOh, yes. Please!” Sophie begged Mr Badgett.
    â€œWell, it does seem a shame to waste such enthusiasm!” laughed Mr Badgett. “If you think it’s all right, then, Bob. Of course they can stay. We’ll just be half an hour or so.”
    He unlocked the back door that led on to a walled courtyard. There were stone statues all round it, and a dry fountain in the middle.
    â€œNo one can get in here, the walls are too high,” he explained. “And we’ll make sure we lock the front door on our way out.”
    â€œThanks, Mr Badgett!” Sophie’s, eyes gleamed. “Come on, Sam! Let’s go back upstairs.”
    They shoved the cleaning things in Sophie’s backpack and pounded up the staircase. Back in the attic, they started taking things off the shelves as fast as they could. Clouds of dust flew up and soon they were both sneezing. Sam opened up the stepladder and began to check out the top shelves, handing things down to Sophie.
    â€œSome of this stuff looks like it’s been here forever. These are ancient!” He handed her down four faded boxes with hairdryers in. “And look at this! Gross!” He handed her a sickly sweet painting of a little girl with a cute kitten in her arms. “Lucky Mrs B hasn’t seen this or she’d probably have bought it for your bedroom wall!”
    Sophie shuddered. He was right. “Any sign of the gem?”
    â€œNot yet.” Sam gave Sophie a stack of old books. Dust flew off them, making her cough. “Are you OK?” he asked in concern as she choked and spluttered.
    Sophie felt like she had just swallowed the contents of a Hoover. “I’m going to get some water!”
    She went down to the toilet on the first-floor landing. Splashing some water from the sink over her face, she washed her hands and then caught some water in her palms, gulping it down and swilling the dust in her throat away.
    As she dried her hands, she looked out of the window down on to the walled courtyard. She frowned. Something down there was moving. The fountain was turned off, but the drain cover on the ground underneath it was slowly lifting up!
    Sophie felt her mouth drop open. As she watched, the drain cover fell with a clatter and a slimy head poked out.
    â€œNo!” she gasped.
    A Swamp Boggle leapt out from the drain and stood in the courtyard.
    Pulling the iron key out of its