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roke out。 Somepeople tried to do swaps and deals in the hall； and others tried to make _off_
with minor items not addressed to them； or with anything that seemed unwantedor unwatched。 The road to the gate was blocked with barrows and handcarts。
In the middle of the motion the Sackville…Bagginses arrived。 Frodo had
retired for a while and left his friend Merry Brandybuck to keep an eye on
things。 When Otho loudly demanded to see Frodo； Merry bowed politely。
'He is indisposed；' he said。 'He is resting。'
'Hiding； you mean；' said Lobelia。 'Anyway we want to see him and we meanto see him。 Just go and tell him so！'
Merry left them a long while in the hall； and they had time to discovertheir parting gift of spoons。 It did not improve their tempers。 Eventuallythey were shown into the study。 Frodo was sitting at a table with a lot ofpapers in front of him。 He looked indisposed – to see Sackville…Bagginses atany rate； and he stood up； fidgeting with something in his pocket。 But hespoke quite politely。
The Sackville…Bagginses were rather offensive。 They began by offering himbad bargain…prices （as between friends） for various valuable and unlabelledthings。 When Frodo replied that only the things specially directed by Bilbowere being given away； they said the whole affair was very fishy。
'Only one thing is clear to me；' said Otho； 'and that is that you aredoing exceedingly well out of it。 I insist on seeing the will。'
Otho would have been Bilbo's heir； but for the adoption of Frodo。 He readthe will carefully and snorted。 It was； unfortunately； very clear and correct（according to the legal customs of hobbits； which demand among other thingsseven signatures of witnesses in red ink）。
'Foiled again！' he said to his wife。 'And after waiting _sixty_ years。
Spoons？ Fiddlesticks！' He snapped his fingers under Frodo's nose and slumpedoff。 But Lobelia was not so easily got rid of。 A little later Frodo came outof the study to see how things were going on and found her still about theplace； investigating nooks and ers and tapping the floors。 He escorted herfirmly off the premises； after he had relieved her of several small （butrather valuable） articles that had somehow fallen inside her umbrella。 Herface looked as if she was in the throes of thinking out a really crushingparting remark； but all she found to say； turning round on the step； was：
'You'll live to regret it； young fellow！ Why didn't you go too？ You don'tbelong here； you're no Baggins – you – you're a Brandybuck！'
'Did you hear that； Merry？ That was an insult； if you like；' said Frodoas he shut the door on her。
'It was a pliment；' said Merry Brandybuck； 'and so； of course； nottrue。'
Then they went round the hole； and evicted three young hobbits （twoBoffins and a Bolger） who were knocking holes in the walls of one of thecellars。 Frodo also had a tussle with young Sancho Proudfoot （old OdoProudfoot's grandson）； who had begun an excavation in the larger pantry； wherehe thought there was an echo。 The legend of Bilbo's gold excited bothcuriosity and hope； for legendary gold （mysteriously obtained； if notpositively ill…gotten）； is； as every one knows； any one's for the finding –
unless the search is interrupted。
When he had overe Sancho and pushed him out； Frodo collapsed on achair in the hall。 It's time to close the shop； Merry；' he said。 'Lock thedoor； and don't open it to anyone today； not even if they bring a batteringram。' Then he went to revive himself with a belated cup of tea。
He had hardly sat down； when there came a soft knock at the front…door。
'Lobelia again most likely；' he thought。 'She must have thought of somethingreally nasty； and have e back again to say it。 It can wait。'
He went on with his tea。 The knock was repeated； much louder； but he tookno notice。 Suddenly the wizard's head appeared at the window。
'If you don't let me in； Frodo； I shall blow your door right down yourhole and out through the hill；' he said。
'My dear Gandalf！ Half a minute！' cried Frodo； running out of the room tothe door。 'e in！ e in！ I thought it was Lobelia。'
'Then I forgive you。 But I saw her some time ago； driving a pony…traptowards Bywater with a face that would have curdled new milk。'
'She had already nearly curdled me。 Honestly； I nearly tried on Bilbo'sring。 I longed to disappear。'
'Don't do that！' said Gandalf； sitting down。 'Do be careful of that ring；
Frodo！ In fact； it is partly about that that I have e to say a last word。'
'Well； what about it？'
'What do you know already？'
'Only what Bilbo told me。 I have heard his story： how he found it； andhow he used it： on his journey； I mean。'
'Which story； I wonder；' said Gandalf。
'Oh； not what he told the dwarves and put in his book；' said Frodo。 'Hetold me the true story soon after I came to live here。 He said you hadpestered him till he told you； so I had better know too。 〃No secrets betweenus； Frodo；〃 he said； 〃but they are not to go any further。 It's mine anyway。〃'
'That's interesting；' said Gandalf。 'Well； what did you think of it all？'
'If you mean； inventing all that about a 〃present〃； well； I thought thetrue story much more likely； and I couldn't see the point of altering it atall。 It was very unlike Bilbo to do so； anyway； and I thought it rather odd。'
'So did I。 But odd things may happen to people that have such treasures –
if they use them。 Let it be a warning to you to be very careful with it。 Itmay have other powers than just making you vanish when you wish to。'
'I don't understand；' said Frodo。
'Neither do I；' answered the wizard。 'I have merely begun to wonder aboutthe ring； especially since last night。 No need to worry。 But if you take myadvice you will use it very seldom； or not at all。 At least I beg you not touse it in any way that will cause talk or rouse suspicion。 I say again： keepit safe； and keep it secret！'
'You are very mysterious！ What are you afraid of？'
'I am not certain； so I will say no more。 I may be able to tell yousomething when I e back。 I am going off at once： so this is good…bye forthe present。' He got up。
'At once！' cried Frodo。 'Why； I thought you were staying on for at leasta week。 I was looking forward to your help。'
'I did mean to – but I have had to change my mind。 I may be away for agood while； but I'll e and see you again； as soon as I can。 Expect me whenyou see me！ I shall slip in quietly。 I shan't often be visiting the Shireopenly again。 I find that I have bee rather unpopular。 They say I am anuisance and a disturber of the peace。 Some people are actually accusing me ofspiriting Bilbo away； or worse。 If you want to know； there is supposed to be aplot between you and me to get hold of his wealth。'
'Some people！' exclaimed Frodo。 'You mean Otho and Lobelia。 Howabominable！ I would give them Bag End and everything else； if I could getBilbo back and go off tramping in the country with him。 I love the Shire。 ButI begin to wish； somehow； that I had gone too。 I wonder if I shall ever seehim again。'
'So do I；' said Gandalf。 'And I wonder many other things。 Good…bye now！
Take care of yourself！ Look out for me； especially at unlikely times！ Goodbye！'
Frodo saw him to the door。 He gave a final wave of his hand； and w