Page 306 - Bridget Jones's Diary - by Helen FIELDING

Everyone held their breath. There was no response.

'Try again,' whispered Mark, looking at me admiringly.

'Get Una to take the gravy back into the kitchen,' I hissed. He did what I said,
then gave me a thumbs-up. I gave him a thumbs-up back and cleared my throat.

'Mum?' I shouted up the stairs again. 'Do you know where the sieve is? Una's
a bit worried about the gravy.'

Ten seconds later there was a pounding down the stairs and Mum burst in,

looking flushed.

'The savory doilies are in the savory doily holder on the wall, you silly willy.

Now. What's Una done with this gravy. Durr! We're going to have to use the
Magimix!'

Even as she spoke there were footsteps running up the stairs and a scuffle

broke out above us.

'Julio!' shrieked Mum and started to run for the door.

The detective I recognized from the police station was standing in the living
room doorway. 'All right, everyone, keep calm. It's all under control,' he said.

Mum let out a scream as Julio, handcuffed to a young policeman, appeared in
the hallway and was bundled out of the front door behind the detective.

I watched her as she collected herself and looked round the room, appraising
the situation.

'Well, thank goodness I managed to calm Julio down,' she said gaily after a
pause. 'What a to do! Are you all right, Daddy?'

'Your top - Mummy - is inside out,' said Dad.