Карлсон, который живет на крыше

           Karlsson,Eric,Bridget,andChristophercreptintothesittingroomasquietly,cautiously,andquicklyastheycould.TheycrouchedandhidbehindthefurniturewhileKarlssondashedintothebeautifuloldcupboardwhereMommykeptherlinenandshutthedoorbehindhimasbesthecould.Nosoonerwashehiddenthanthethievescamepaddingin.Eric,whowaslyingbehindthecouchnexttothefireplace,peepedout.Tworeallyuglyanddreadful-lookingthieveswerestandinginthemiddleoftheroom.And(wouldyoubelieveit?)theywerenoneotherthanCoshandRuffy!

           "Well,now,wheredotheykeepthecrownjewels,Iwonder,"saidCoshinalow,hoarsevoice.

           "Here,ofcourse,"saidRuffy,pointingattheantiquebureauwhichhadalargenumberoflittledrawers.EricknewthatMommykeptherhousekeepingmoneyinoneofthedrawers,andinanothertherewasthevaluableringandbroochthatGranniehadgivenher.Daddykepthisgoldmedalthere,too—theonehehadreceivedasashootingprize.Howterribletothinkofthethievestakingitall,thoughtEric,andhecouldhardlyrefrainfromburstingintotearsashelaybehindthecouch.

           "Youhavealookatit,"saidCosh."I’mgoingoutintothekitchentoseeifthey’vegotanysilverspoons."

           Coshdisappeared,andRuffybegantopulloutthedrawers.Hegaveasatisfiedwhistle.Hehadprobablyfoundthehousekeepingmoney,thoughtEric,gettingsadderandsadder.

           Ruffypulledoutthenextdrawerandwhistledagain.Nodoubthehadnowfoundtheringandthebrooch.