"Hooray!" echoed Alec rather feebly, for he was desperately busy. Outside--now that the fog had lifted--the busy hum could be heard of everyday life, mingled with boys' shouts as they trundled a guy about. "I've found something out!" suddenly exclaimed Alec in a curious voice, and he spread out on the table the front page of an old _Times_. "Look here, Frank!" he continued in growing excitement. "Here, under the Births--marked with red pencil--'Guy Thompson!' That's Father--here's the date. Wait a moment. Now I'll reckon it out. Hush! Don't say anything while I do the sum. _I say!_ Father _is_ twenty-one!" "_I_ knew it!" exclaimed Molly, capering about. "I told you so." "Rubbish!" said Frank. "Molly, do shut up. Alec, where did you find that paper? How did it come here?" "I found it there, on the rocking-chair. It looks old, and it _is_ old. See, here's the date. It's very funny! I wish we could find out--it _would_ be jolly to find out all by ourselves, if this really can be true. I say, I know who'd tell us. I've heard all about Somerset House--where you can get to know about people and their affairs--only I don't know where the place is, or who lives there." "An omlibus will take us anywhere," spoke up Molly. "Who's _us_?" inquired Frank scornfully. "Never mind _her_," said Alec excitedly. "I'll tell you what. Listen: this afternoon, when we've got to be in the play-room, let's go in a cab to Somerset House, and just get to know once for all. I've got four shillings in my money-box; what have you got?" "I'll count." Frank counted up to five shillings. "The man may want more. Mollikins, what have you got in your purse?" "Dot sixpence." "Well, if you pay your share, we'll take you with us--that is, if you can put on your own hat. I can help you with your coat." And so it was arranged. And at three o'clock that cold afternoon Alec, Frank, and Molly might have been seen stealing forth into the keen air; they were supposed to be playing at marbles in the garret or they might have been seen, and packed back again. The boys were well muffled up, and Molly had her hat on with the back to the front. The three were in high spirits once they were off, and they realised the full importance of such an adventure. In Alec's hand was the sheet of newspaper in which the truth of the paragraph was to be tested. Alec hailed the first cab, the driver shook his head. The second paid no attention. The third asked them who they thought they were getting at and where they thought they were going to. "Somerset House!" ordered Alec, after quickly lifting Molly in, and Frank had closed the door smartly. On the way there they behaved much better than they usually did when they drove out. No one fidgeted; no one complained of feeling hungry, or thirsty, or tired, or anything.