First Broadcast on 17th July 1978
Executive Producer James Gatwood
Produced by Don Leaver
Directed by Don Leaver
Adapted by Richard Carpenter
Guest starring:
Michael Hinz, Sue Best, Frederick Von Thun,
Pearl Hackney, Peter Dennis, Alec Bregonzi &
Johnny Wade.
Julian, Dick, and Anne's mother are ill with scarlet fever, so they, George, and Timmy return to Kirrin Cottage for the holidays. Uncle Quentin, who is working on a secret theory in his study, hires a tutor, Mr. Roland, to help Julian and Dick catch up with schoolwork they missed while sick. George is also required to attend the lessons, as she is behind her age level.
The day before lessons commence, the children visit the old house at Kirrin Farm, which is run by Mr. and Mrs. Sanders. Mrs. Sanders informs the children that two artists from London have booked a three-week stay at the house. The children explore the house and discover medical treatment recipes and a linen map inscribed with Latin words.
The children take the map back to Kirrin Cottage, where Julian guesses that it shows a "secret way" but he is unable to decipher the other words. Much to George's chagrin, Julian later shows the map to Mr. Roland, asking him what the words mean. He confirms that it is about a "secret way" and also about an east-facing room with eight wooden panels. Later, Timmy is banished outside to his kennel for attacking Mr. Roland. Next, Uncle Quentin's secret papers are stolen. George suspects Mr. Roland, but cannot immediately convince the others. The children later discover the "secret way" (which was in Quentin's laboratory after all) which leads to the two artists' room in Kirrin Farm and George uncovers the stolen papers by mistake and they try to escape through the secret way, but the thieves almost outrun them but retreat when George threatens to set Timmy loose on them. The five also discover that Mr. Roland was behind them and imprison Mr. Roland and the two artists behind a room until the police arrive and arrest them.