He gestured that it was a mere nothing and walked off.
"Say," she asked, hurrying after him and dragging her escort with her, "did you ever find that green cat of yours?"
He smiled at her. "No," he said, "but I'm going to."
X
"And how did you plan to get inside when the place is closed for the night?" Carstairs prodded sardonically.
For answer Phil cocked his eyebrows defiantly and gave the restaurant door a smart shove. It swung silently inward. He led them in haughtily, vaguely aware that Llewellyn was examining the lock.
The long room was very dark. It smelled stalely of people and liquor and seared meat; Phil even thought he could distinguish Juno's burned rabbit chops. Otie snuffed eagerly and tugged Buck forward by his leash. Phil steered their course confidently between the counter and the booths. He was feeling particularly pleased with himself because Mitzie had found opportunity to ask him for his address on the way over.
"All right, all right," he heard Carstairs whisper behind him to Llewellyn, "so the lock was burned. Somebody's ahead of us. We'll be watching out."
Phil pushed open the door to the stairs, and hesitated. Inside it was now completely black.