the club of queer trades-第19章

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　a　real　stop　I　should　find　out　something　curious。〃

〃Well？〃　I　said。

〃Well；〃　he　answered；　〃I　jolly　well　have。　You　just　come　with　me；〃　and　before　I　could　speak　he　had　turned　tail　once　more　and　whisked　through　the　blue　dark　into　the　moat　or　basement　of　the　house。　I　followed　almost　before　I　made　any　decision。

When　we　got　down　into　the　area　I　felt　indescribably　foolish　literally；　as　the　saying　is；　in　a　hole。　There　was　nothing　but　a　closed　door；　shuttered　windows；　the　steps　down　which　we　had　come；　the　ridiculous　well　in　which　I　found　myself；　and　the　ridiculous　man　who　had　brought　me　there；　and　who　stood　there　with　dancing　eyes。　I　was　just　about　to　turn　back　when　Rupert　caught　me　by　the　elbow。

〃Just　listen　to　that；〃　he　said；　and　keeping　my　coat　gripped　in　his　right　hand；　he　rapped　with　the　knuckles　of　his　left　on　the　shutters　of　the　basement　window。　His　air　was　so　definite　that　I　paused　and　even　inclined　my　head　for　a　moment　towards　it。　From　inside　was　coming　the　murmur　of　an　unmistakable　human　voice。

〃Have　you　been　talking　to　somebody　inside？〃　I　asked　suddenly；　turning　to　Rupert。

〃No；　I　haven't；〃　he　replied；　with　a　grim　smile；　〃but　I　should　very　much　like　to。　Do　you　know　what　somebody　is　saying　in　there？〃

〃No；　of　course　not；〃　I　replied。

〃Then　I　recommend　you　to　listen；〃　said　Rupert　sharply。

In　the　dead　silence　of　the　aristocratic　street　at　evening；　I　stood　a　moment　and　listened。　From　behind　the　wooden　partition；　in　which　there　was　a　long　lean　crack；　was　coming　a　continuous　and　moaning　sound　which　took　the　form　of　the　words：　〃When　shall　I　get　out？　When　shall　I　get　out？　Will　they　ever　let　me　out？〃　or　words　to　that　effect。

〃Do　you　know　anything　about　this？〃　I　said；　turning　upon　Rupert　very　abruptly。

〃Perhaps　you　think　I　am　the　criminal；〃　he　said　sardonically；　〃instead　of　being　in　some　small　sense　the　detective。　I　came　into　this　area　two　or　three　minutes　ago；　having　told　you　that　I　knew　there　was　something　funny　going　on；　and　this　woman　behind　the　shutters　（for　it　evidently　is　a　woman）　was　moaning　like　mad。　No；　my　dear　friend；　beyond　that　I　do　not　know　anything　about　her。　She　is　not；　startling　as　it　may　seem；　my　disinherited　daughter；　or　a　member　of　my　secret　seraglio。　But　when　I　hear　a　human　being　wailing　that　she　can't　get　out；　and　talking　to　herself　like　a　mad　woman　and　beating　on　the　shutters　with　her　fists；　as　she　was　doing　two　or　three　minutes　ago；　I　think　it　worth　mentioning；　that　is　all。〃

〃My　dear　fellow；〃　I　said；　〃I　apologize；　this　is　no　time　for　arguing。　What　is　to　be　done？〃

Rupert　Grant　had　a　long　clasp…knife　naked　and　brilliant　in　his　hand。

〃First　of　all；〃　he　said；　〃house…breaking。〃　And　he　forced　the　blade　into　the　crevice　of　the　wood　and　broke　away　a　huge　splinter；　leaving　a　gap　and　glimpse　of　the　dark　window…pane　inside。　The　room　within　was　entirely　unlighted；　so　that　for　the　first　few　seconds　the　window　seemed　a　dead　and　opaque　surface；　as　dark　as　a　strip　of　slate。　Then　came　a　realization　which；　though　in　a　sense　gradual；　made　us　step　back　and　catch　our　breath。　Two　large　dim　human　eyes　were　so　close　to　us　that　the　window　itself　seemed　suddenly　to　be　a　mask。　A　pale　human　face　was　pressed　against　the　glass　within；　and　with　increased　distinctness；　with　the　increase　of　the　opening　came　the　words：

〃When　shall　I　get　out？〃

〃What　can　all　this　be？〃　I　said。

Rupert　made　no　answer；　but　lifting　his　walking…stick　and　pointing　the　ferrule　like　a　fencing　sword　at　the　glass；　punched　a　hole　in　it；　smaller　and　more　accurate　than　I　should　have　supposed　possible。　The　moment　he　had　done　so　the　voice　spouted　out　of　the　hole；　so　to　speak；　piercing　and　querulous　and　clear；　making　the　same　demand　for　liberty。

〃Can't　you　get　out；　madam？〃　I　said；　drawing　near　the　hole　in　some　perturbation。

〃Get　out？　Of　course　I　can't；〃　moaned　the　unknown　female　bitterly。　〃They　won't　let　me。　I　told　them　I　would　be　let　out。　I　told　them　I'd　call　the　police。　But　it's　no　good。　Nobody　knows；　nobody　comes。　They　could　keep　me　as　long　as　they　liked　only〃

I　was　in　the　very　act　of　breaking　the　window　finally　with　my　stick；　incensed　with　this　very　sinister　mystery；　when　Rupert　held　my　arm　hard；　held　it　with　a　curious；　still；　and　secret　rigidity　as　if　he　desired　to　stop　me；　but　did　not　desire　to　be　observed　to　do　so。　I　paused　a　moment；　and　in　the　act　swung　slightly　round；　so　that　I　was　facing　the　supporting　wall　of　the　front　door　steps。　The　act　froze　me　into　a　sudden　stillness　like　that　of　Rupert；　for　a　figure　almost　as　motionless　as　the　pillars　of　the　portico；　but　unmistakably　human；　had　put　his　head　out　from　between　the　doorposts　and　was　gazing　down　into　the　area。　One　of　the　lighted　lamps　of　the　street　was　just　behind　his　head；　throwing　it　into　abrupt　darkness。　Consequently；　nothing　whatever　could　be　seen　of　his　face　beyond　one　fact；　that　he　was　unquestionably　staring　at　us。　I　must　say　I　thought　Rupert's　calmness　magnificent。　He　rang　the　area　bell　quite　idly；　and　went　on　talking　to　me　with　the　easy　end　of　a　conversation　which　had　never　had　any　beginning。　The　black　glaring　figure　in　the　portico　did　not　stir。　I　almost　thought　it　was　really　a　statue。　In　another　moment　the　grey　area　was　golden　with　gaslight　as　the　basement　door　was　opened　suddenly　and　a　small　and　decorous　housemaid　stood　in　it。

〃Pray　excuse　me；〃　said　Rupert；　in　a　voice　which　he　contrived　to　make　somehow　or　other　at　once　affable　and　underbred；　〃but　we　thought　perhaps　that　you　might　do　something　for　the　Waifs　and　Strays。　We　don't　expect〃

〃Not　here；〃　said　the　small　servant；　with　the　incomparable　severity　of　the　menial　of　the　non…philanthropic；　and　slammed　the　door　in　our　faces。

〃Very　sad；　very　sadthe　indifference　of　these　people；〃　said　the　philanthropist　with　gravity；　as　we　went　together　up　the　steps。　As　we　did　so　the　motionless　figure　in　the　portico　suddenly　disappeared。

〃Well；　what　do　you　make　of　that？〃　asked　Rupert；　slapping　his　gloves　together　when　we　got　into　the　street。

I　do　not　mind　admitting　that　I　was　seriously　upset。　Under　such　conditions　I　had　but　one　thought。

〃Don't　you　think；〃　I　said　a　trifle　timidly；　〃that　we　had　better　tell　your　brother？〃

〃Oh；　if　you　like；〃　said　Rupert；　in　a　lordly　way。　〃He　is　quite　near；　as　I　promised　to　meet　him　at　Gloucester　Road　Station。　Shall　we　take　a　cab？　Perhaps；　as　you　say；　it　might　amuse　him。〃

Gloucester　Road　Station　had；　as　if　by　accident；　a　somewhat　deserted　look。　After　a　little　looking　about　we　discovered　Basil　Grant　with　his　great　head　and　his　great　white　hat　blocking　the　ticket…office　window。　I　thought　at　first　that　he　was　taking　a　ticket　for　somewhere　and　being　an　astonishingly　long　time　about　it。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　was　discussing　religion　with　the　booking…office　clerk；　and　had　almost　got　his　head　through　the　hole　in　his　excitement。　When　we　dragged　him　away　it　was　some　time　before　he　would　talk　of　anything　but　the　growth　of　an　Oriental　fatalism　in　modern　thought；　which　had　been　well　typified　by　some　of　the　official's　ingenious　but　perverse　fallacies。　At　last　we　managed　to　get　him　to　understand　that　we　had　made　an　astounding　discovery。　When　he　did　listen；　he　listened　attentively；　walking　between　us　up　and　down　the　lamp…lit　street；　while　we　told　him　in　a　rather　feverish　duet　of　the　great　house　in　South　Kensington；　of　the　equivocal　milkman；　of　the　lady　imprisoned　in　the　basement；　and　the　man　staring　from　the　porch。　At　length　he　said：

〃If　you're　thinking　of　going　back　to　look　the　thing　up；　you　must　be　careful　what　you　do。　It's　no　good　you　two　going　there。　To　go　twice　on　the　same　pretext　would　look　dubious。　To　go　on　a　different　pretext　would　look　worse。　You　may　be　quite　certain　that　the　inquisitive　gentleman　who　looked　at　you　looked　thoroughly；　and　will　wear；　so　to　speak；　your　portraits　next　to　his　heart。　If　you　want　to　find　out　if　there　is　anything　in　this　without　a　police　raid　I　fancy　you　had　better　wait　outside。　I'll　go　in　and　see　them。〃

His　slow　and　reflective　walk　brought　us　at　length　within　sight　of　the　house。　It　stood　up　ponderous　and　purple　against　the　last　pallor　of　twilight。　It　looked　like　an　ogre's　castle。　And　so　apparently　it　was。

〃Do　you　think　it's　safe；　Basil；〃　said　his　brother；　pausing；　a　little　pale；　under　the　lamp；　〃to　go　into　that　place　alone？　Of　course　we　shall　be　near　enough　to　hear　if　you　yell；　but　these　devils　might　do　somethingsomething　suddenor　odd。　I　can't　feel　it's　safe。〃

〃I　know　of　nothing　that　is　safe；〃　said　Basil　composedly；　〃except；　possiblydeath；〃　and　he　went　up　the　steps　and　rang　at　the　bell。　When　the　massive　respectable　door　opened　for　an　instant；　cutting　a　square　of　gaslight　in　the　gathering　dark；　and　then　closed　with　a　bang；　burying　our　friend　inside；　we　could　not　repress　a　shudder。　It　had　been　like　the　heavy　gaping　and　closing　of　the　dim　lips　of　some　evil　leviathan。　A　freshening　night　breeze　began　to　blow　up　the　street；　and　we　turned　up　the　collars　of　our　coats。　At　the　end　of　twenty　minutes；　in　which　we　had　scarcely　moved　or　spoken；　we　were　as　cold　as　icebergs；　but　more；　I　think；　from　apprehension　than　the　atmosphere。　Suddenly　Rupert　made　an　abrupt　movement　towards　the　house。

〃I　can't　stand　this；〃　he　began；　but　almost　as　he　spoke　sprang　back　into　the　shadow；　for　the　panel　of　gold　was　again　cut　out　of　the　black　house　front；　and　the　burly　figure　of　Basil　was　silhouetted　against　it　coming　out。　He　was　roaring　with　laughter　and　talking　so　loudly　that　you　could　have　heard　every　syllable　across　the　street。　Another　voice；　or；　possibly；　two　voices；　were　laughing　and　talking　back　at　him　from　within。

〃No；　no；　no；〃　Basil　was　calling　out；　with　a　sort　of　hilarious　hostility。　〃That's　quite　wrong。　That's　the　most　ghastly　heresy　of　all。　It's　the　soul；　my　dear　chap；　the　soul　that's　the　arbiter　of　cosmic　forces。　When　you　see　a　cosmic　force　you　don't　like；　trick　it；　my　boy。　But　I　must　really　be　off。〃

〃Come　and　pitch　into　us　again；〃　came　the　laughing　voice　from　out　of　the　house。　〃We　still　have　some　bones　unbroken。〃

〃Thanks　very　much；　I　willgood　night；〃　shouted　Grant；　who　had　by　this　time　reached　the　street。

〃Good　night；〃　came　the　friendly　call　in　reply；　before　the　door　closed。

〃Basil；〃　said　Rupert　Grant；　in　a　hoarse　whisper；　〃what　are　we　to　do？〃

The　elder　brother　looked　thoughtfully　from　one　of　us　to　the　other。

〃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　tonight？　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　omnibuses？　There　is　a　restaurant　in　Sloane　Square。〃

〃I　sometimes　think　you　play　the　fool　to　frighten　us；〃　I　said　irritably。