Tintin and the Will of Hartley Manor

by crayonsruletheworld

Tintin is given a new assignment - the will of Mr. Hartley. His money and estate was supposed to have gone almost entirely to charity, but distant cousins are now the sole inheritants. Is there a later will? Why are there men tailing Tintin? And what does the beautiful girl who just moved in across the hall have to do with this?

6. Chapter 6

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Chapter 6 – No Discovery

"Tintin! Why are you lying down in the street?"

Tintin winced as he opened his eyes, just having come to his senses. He recognized the voice as Professor Calculus'. "Hello, Professor." He forced out the words as he started to stand, Snowy nudging him upwards as he went. After a few seconds, he looked around and frowned. "Of course, the hat is missing." Feeling in his pockets, he found that the note was gone too.

"You've lost something!" The Professor deduced. "Do you need help looking for it?"

"No thank you, Professor. What are you doing in this area of town?"

"No, I wasn't just lying around!" Replied Calculus, for he was quite deaf but would never admit to it. "I was at the library, doing some research."

"Certainly. But Professor, I'm working on a story and I have to –"

"No no, don't be sorry! I'll see you sooner or later at Marlinspike Hall, I'm sure." Calculus smiled, and continued on his way.

Tintin smiled at the back of the thin Professor, and then remembered his circumstances at Snowy's yelp.

"What is it, Snowy?" Tintin asked, glancing at his dog then turning his gaze towards him with more intensity as he saw his dog sniffing the air. "What do you smell?"

Snowy bolted forward, out of the alley and into the street just past it. Tintin's speed increased as he tore after his beloved pet, a new excitement lit within him.

Dodging through people to follow his dog, he called out apologies in response to people's disgruntled cries. For a few seconds he lost sight of Snowy, but he heard the dog's loud yelps. Snowy's caught him! Tintin thought excitedly. Breaking through the crowd, he quickly spotted his white dog.

Tintin stopped, disappointed. His dog was being petted and caressed by his new neighbour, Miss Eva.

Her hair under the same stylish cap she had worn that morning, she saw him as he approached. Smiling, she commented "I knew I wouldn't see the dog without his master. Tintin, a pleasure to be seeing you again, and so soon after we'd met!" As she spoke she straightened, and her almost startling blue eyes met his.

"The pleasure's all mine," Tintin replied with a similar smile, finding his disappointment falling away and honesty coming into his words. "I was just on my way back to the apartment; would you like to accompany me?"

Taking his arm, she smiled again with a just a second's glance back. "I'd love to."