"Would you like to have an evening out?"
"I would," said Brother Bones.
"What would you do?"
"I would go to see my remaining sister." His left eyelid trembled
slowly in his cadaverous face.
"But if you should hear she was ruined like the other? What would
you do?"
A shudder passed over the man. "I have not got my little knife,"
he said vacantly.
True, he had not! The Brotherhood had no pockets,--or rather only
a corporate one, which belonged to the Superior. John Gale lifted
his eyes in sublime exaltation. "You shall go out," he said with
decision. "Muffle up until you are well out of Bishopsgate Street,
where it still snows."
"But how did you get the keys?" said Brother Bones.
"From under the Father Superior's door-mat."
"But that was wrong, Brother."
"The mat bore the inscription, 'Salve,' which you know in Latin
means 'Welcome,'" returned John Gale. "It was logically a
permission."
The two men gazed at each other silently. A shudder passed over
the two left eyelids of their wan spiritual faces.
"But I have no money," said Brother Bones.
"Nor have I. But here is a 'bus ticket and a free pass to the
Gaiety. You will probably find Golly somewhere about. Tell her,"
he said in a hollow voice, "that I'm getting on."
"I will," said Brother Bones, with a deep cough.
The gate opened and he disappeared in the falling snow.
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