Page:Chesterton - The Club of Queer Trades.djvu/47

Adventures of Major Brown his brows. Of course, it's quite clear, the thing's all crooked. But there are three of us, and—"

"I shouldn't get the police," said Basil, in a queer voice. Rupert glanced at him and stared hard.

"Basil," he cried, "you're trembling. "What's the matter—are you afraid?"

"Cold, perhaps," said the major, eying him. There was no doubt that he was shaking.

At last, after a few moments' scrutiny, Rupert broke into a curse.

"You're laughing," he cried. "I know that confounded, silent, shaky laugh of yours. What the deuce is the amusement, Basil? Here we are, all three of us, within a yard of a den of ruffians—"

"But I shouldn't call the police," said Basil. "We four heroes are quite equal to a host," and he continued to quake with his mysterious mirth.

Rupert turned with impatience and strode swiftly down the court, the rest of us following. When he reached the door of No. 14, 33