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y dawned upon me。 But this day's work was destined to end in confusion worse confounded。 Before we left that house； ten minutes afterwards； one half…witted touch was added which rolled all our minds in cloud。 If Rupert's head had suddenly fallen off on the floor； if wings had begun to sprout out of Greenwood's shoulders； we could scarcely have been more suddenly stricken。 And yet of this we had no explanation。 We had to go to bed that night with the prodigy and get up next morning with it and let it stand in our memories for weeks and months。 As will be seen； it was not until months afterwards that by another accident and in another way it was explained。 For the present I only state what happened。
When all five of us went down the kitchen stairs again； Rupert leading； the two hosts bringing up the rear； we found the door of the prison again closed。 Throwing it open we found the place again as black as pitch。 The old lady； if she was still there； had turned out the gas： she seemed to have a weird preference for sitting in the dark。
Without another word Rupert lit the gas again。 The little old lady turned her bird…like head as we all stumbled forward in the strong gaslight。 Then； with a quickness that almost made me jump； she sprang up and swept a sort of old…fashioned curtsey or reverence。 I looked quickly at Greenwood and Burrows； to whom it was natural to suppose this subservience had been offered。 I felt irritated at what was implied in this subservience； and desired to see the faces of the tyrants as they received it。 To my surprise they did not seem to have seen it at all： Burrows was paring his nails with a small penknife。 Greenwood was at the back of the group and had hardly entered the room。 And then an amazing fact became apparent。 It was Basil Grant who stood foremost of the group； the golden gaslight lighting up his strong face and figure。 His face wore an expression indescribably conscious； with the suspicion of a very grave smile。 His head was slightly bent with a restrained bow。 It was he who had acknowledged the lady's obeisance。 And it was he； beyond any shadow of reasonable doubt； to whom it had really been directed。
〃So I hear；〃 he said； in a kindly yet somehow formal voice； 〃I hear； madam； that my friends have been trying to rescue you。 But without success。〃
〃No one； naturally； knows my faults better than you；〃 answered the lady with a high colour。 〃But you have not found me guilty of treachery。〃
〃I willingly attest it； madam；〃 replied Basil； in the same level tones； 〃and the fact is that I am so much gratified with your exhibition of loyalty that I permit myself the pleasure of exercising some very large discretionary powers。 You would not leave this room at the request of these gentlemen。 But you know that you can safely leave it at mine。〃
The captive made another reverence。 〃I have never complained of your injustice；〃 she said。 〃I need scarcely say what I think of your generosity。〃
And before our staring eyes could blink she had passed out of the room； Basil holding the door open for her。
He turned to Greenwood with a relapse into joviality。 〃This will be a relief to you；〃 he said。
〃Yes； it will；〃 replied that immovable young gentleman with a face like a sphinx。
We found ourselves outside in the dark blue night； shaken and dazed as if we had fallen into it from some high tower。
〃Basil；〃 said Rupert at last； in a weak voice； 〃I always thought you were my brother。 But are you a man？ I meanare you only a man？〃
〃At present；〃 replied Basil； 〃my mere humanity is proved by one of the most unmistakable symbolshunger。 We are too late for the theatre in Sloane Square。 But we are not too late for the restaurant。 Here comes the green omnibus！〃 and he had leaped on it before we could speak。
As I said； it was months after that Rupert Grant suddenly entered my room； swinging a satchel in his hand and with a general air of having jumped over the garden wall； and implored me to go with him upon the latest and wildest of his expeditions。 He proposed to himself no less a thing than the discovery of the actual origin； whereabouts； and headquarters of the source of all our joys and sorrowsthe Club of Queer Trades。 I should expand this story for ever if I explained how ultimately we ran this strange entity to its lair。 The process meant a hundred interesting things。 The tracking of a member； the bribing of a cabman； the fighting of roughs； the lifting of a paving stone； the finding of a cellar； the finding of a cellar below the cellar； the finding of the subterranean passage； the finding of the Club of Queer Trades。
I have had many strange experiences in my life； but never a stranger one than that I felt when I came out of those rambling； sightless； and seemingly hopeless passages into the sudden splendour of a sumptuous and hospitable dining…room； surrounded upon almost every side by faces that I knew。 There was Mr Montmorency； the Arboreal House…Agent； seated between the two brisk young men who were occasionally vicars； and always Professional Detainers。 There was Mr P。 G。 Northover； founder of the Adventure and Romance Agency。 There was Professor Chadd； who invented the dancing Language。
As we entered； all the members seemed to sink suddenly into their chairs； and with the very action the vacancy of the presidential seat gaped at us like a missing tooth。
〃The president's not here；〃 said Mr P。 G。 Northover； turning suddenly to Professor Chadd。
〃Nno；〃 said the philosopher； with more than his ordinary vagueness。 〃I can't imagine where he is。〃
〃Good heavens；〃 said Mr Montmorency； jumping up； 〃I really feel a little nervous。 I'll go and see。〃 And he ran out of the room。
An instant after he ran back again； twittering with a timid ecstasy。
〃He's there； gentlemenhe's there all righthe's coming in now；〃 he cried； and sat down。 Rupert and I could hardly help feeling the beginnings of a sort of wonder as to who this person might be who was the first member of this insane brotherhood。 Who； we thought indistinctly； could be maddest in this world of madmen： what fantastic was it whose shadow filled all these fantastics with so loyal an expectation？
Suddenly we were answered。 The door flew open and the room was filled and shaken with a shout； in the midst of which Basil Grant； smiling and in evening dress； took his seat at the head of the table。
How we ate that dinner I have no idea。 In the common way I am a person particularly prone to enjoy the long luxuriance of the club dinner。 But on this occasion it seemed a hopeless and endless string of courses。 Hors…d'oeuvre sardines seemed as big as herrings； soup seemed a sort of ocean； larks were ducks； ducks were ostriches until that dinner was over。 The cheese course was maddening。 I had often heard of the moon being made of green cheese。 That night I thought the green cheese was made of the moon。 And all the time Basil Grant went on laughing and eating and drinking； and never threw one glance at us to tell us why he was there； the king of these capering idiots。
At last came the moment which I knew must in some way enlighten us； the time of the club speeches and the club toasts。 Basil Grant rose to his feet amid a surge of s