That policeman outside will presently hear us whispering if we stand
here much longer."
There was wisdom in this. So, once again I took the candle, and we
marched back. There wasn't a single jest left in my whole system, and
it didn't look as if there was ever going to be another supply. We
took the other side of the furnace, and at length came to a flight of
wooden stairs, leading somewhere into the club. It was our last
chance, or we should indeed be obliged to stay all night in some bin;
for it would not be long before they searched the cellars. If this
flight led into the kitchen, we were saved, for I could bluff the
servants. We paused. Presently we ascended, side by side, with light
but firm step. We reached the landing in front of the door without
mishap. From somewhere came a puff of air which blew out the candle.
I struck a match viciously against the wall---and blundered into a
string of cooking-pans! It was all over, the agony of suspense!
Blang! Rumpity-bumpity-blang-blang!
I have heard many stage thunders in my time, but that racket beat
anything and everything this side of siege-guns.
Instantly the door opened and a policeman poked his head in. Before I
had time to move, he grabbed me by the arm and yanked me--into the
ballroom! The girl and I had made a complete circuit of the cellars,
and had stumbled into the ball-room again by the flight opposite to
that by which we left it.
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