Page:Chesterton - The Club of Queer Trades.djvu/175

Speculation of the House-Agent "You really searched the common? And the address was really not known in the district—by-the-way, what was the address?"

The constable selected one of his slips of paper and consulted it, but before he could speak Rupert Grant, who was leaning in the window in a perfect posture of the quiet and triumphant detective, struck in with the sharp and suave voice he loved so much to use.

"Why, I can tell you that, Basil," he said, graciously, as he idly plucked leaves from a plant in the window. "I took the precaution to get this man's address from the constable last night."

"And what was it?" asked his brother, gruffly.

"The constable will correct me if I am wrong," said Rupert, looking sweetly at the ceiling. "It was 'The Elms, Buxton Common, near Purley, Surrey.

"Right, sir," said the policeman, laughing and folding. up his papers.

There was a silence, and the blue eyes of Basil looked blindly for a few seconds into 157