Page:Chesterton - The Club of Queer Trades.djvu/257

The Seclusion of the Old Lady "What is to be done, Basil?" I repeated, in uncontrollable excitement.

"I'm not sure," said Basil, doubtfully. "What do you say to getting some dinner somewhere and going to the Court Theatre to-night? I tried to get those fellows to come, but they couldn't."

We stared blankly.

"Go to the Court Theatre?" repeated Rupert. "What would be the good of that?"

"Good? What do you mean?" answered Basil, staring also. "Have you turned Puritan or Passive Resister, or something? For fun, of course."

"But, great God in heaven! What are we going to do, I mean!" cried Rupert. "What about the poor woman locked up in that house? Shall I go for the police?"

Basil's face cleared with immediate comprehension, and he laughed.

"Oh, that," he said. "I'd forgotten that. That's all right. Some mistake, possibly. Or some quite trifling private affair. But I'm sorry those fellows couldn't come with us. Shall we take one of these green 235