With mouth open to speak he stumbled to the door of the sitting-room and scene of battle.
"Theoretically speaking, that is no doubt true," Mr Burrows was saying, lying on his back and arguing easily with Basil; "but we must consider the matter as it appears to our sense.

The origin of morality..." "Basil," cried Rupert, gasping, "she won't come out." "Who won't come out ?" asked Basil, a little cross at being interrupted in an argument.
"The lady downstairs," replied Rupert.

"The lady who was locked up.

She won't come out.

And she says that all she wants is for us to let these fellows loose." "And a jolly sensible suggestion," cried Basil, and with a bound he was on top of the prostrate Burrows once more and was unknotting his bonds with hands and teeth.
"A brilliant idea.