Septimus

ur breakfast?" asked Wiggleswick, putting his

vory rule nervousl

. Which would

awled Wig

ed his remark i

ter," said Wiggleswick contemptuous

he water

n't warm, so it's n

mus. "Now that's just

. "I'll turn on the

ately risen, and sat in pyjamas and dressing-gown over his drawing. A bundle of proofs and a jam-pot containing a dissipated looking rosebud lay on that space of the table not occupied by the double-elephant sheet of paper. By his side was a manuscript

at the window. Clem Sypher stood outside, gazing at him with amused cu

come

of Clem Sypher that could respond to th

rnoon, or good night?" he aske

us. "I've just got up.

ireplace, and the tug was immedi

s that?" asked S

d a pistol is fired off in the kitchen. Wiggleswick says he can't

the bath's r

"Let it run." He turned t

the afternoon? Do yo

ptimus. "Do come in and I'll

ell-pull. A hasty exclamation

ll open the front door for me," he a

by the orthodox avenues, into the room. H

ould have been like if our dea

ir to the fire and bade his guest sit down, and handed him a box of cigars which also housed a pair of compa

rious creature there's no knowing at what hour you can receive visitors. Mrs. Middlemist to

said Se

diagram. "What on ea

f is like a lid. When there's a collision this series of levers is set in motion, and at once the inner case is lifted through the roof and the people are out of the direct concussion. I haven't quite worked i

. "It would also come rath

object when there are h

lightened planet. If they won't pay thirteen pence halfpenny for Sypher's Cure, how can you expect them to pay millions for your inventio

of his kindly smiles and one of

y book

I l

tain

he bundle-it was in page-

y Septimus Dix, M.A." He looked through the pages. "This seems like sen

ns where the text-books leave off. The

you get your know

d through the m

ad married a bomb

meal Sypher smoked and talked and looked through the pages of the Treatise. The lamps lit and the curtain

in the wa

easant it was. I've not had a man inside my rooms since I was

did th

rnt umbrella episode and

, he is doubly welcome," he explained. "Besides," he added, after a dr

ten it. I'm so much the Friend of Humanity in the bulk

Septimus, filling his

nd the two friends finished the afternoon in great amity. Before taking his depart

tand what you're driving at, and I should like to examine the

e carried on. At present, however, I'm m

dangerous to be carried on!" laughed

in this house of his, and making the air fragrant by her presence. But as the woman-although he tried his utmost to prevent it and to conjure up the form of a totally different type-took the shape of Zora Middlemist, he discouraged such dreams as making more for mild unhappiness than for joy, and bent his thoughts to his guns and railway carriages and other world-upheaving inventions. The only thing that caused him any uneasiness was an overdraft at his bank due to cover which he had to pay on shares purchased for him by a circularizing bucket-shop keeper. It had seemed so simple to write Messrs. Shark & Co., or whatever alias the philanthropic financier assumed, a check for a couple of hundred pounds, and receive Messrs. Shark's check for two thousand in a fortnight, that he had wondered why other people did not follow this easy road to fo

ecipe for an omelette which he was to convey verbally to Wiggleswick, although he confessed that the only omelette that Wiggleswick had tried to make they had used for months afterwards as a kettle-holder; but Emmy did not prattle. She sat in a corner, listlessl

Zora happened to be absent from the room in search of a

he," said Septimus sympathetica

I'm so rotten-ah! well then-such an uninspiring companion, if you like," she added, seeing that the word had

her petulant ma

what's the matter. It

ll his angels," said Emmy, "an

f it would do you any

, her novel held in both hands behind her back, one finger holding the place. A letter dropped fro

es to say he has gone to Naples on account of his health. You had better let me go, my good Sept

Zora?" he suggested.

orld that must know anything. D

't understand," h

ey're awfully proud of it. Mother's people date from before Noah, and they look down on the Oldrieves because they sprang up like mushrooms jus

y him. They must know sooner

ed. Then nothing can be don

ouldn't be well to give him up?" sa

into tears, and, afraid lest Zora should sur

p them. He might start at once for Naples, and, by the help of strong gendarmes whom he might suborn, bring back Mordaunt Prince presently to London. Then he remembered his overdrawn banking account, and sighfully gave up the idea. If only he were not bound to secre

rica Valparaiso was situated-and how many nice and clever people could tell you positively, offhand?-"if I go r

e very thing fo

s," she remarked, with a

od for me to be

she laughed. "If you could take care of he

r luggage," said Septimus, miles aw

eally have to look after the two of you. But

thing that gave

you?" s

ng-he knew not what; but his throat was smitten with sudden dryness. It seemed to him that he had sat there, for the best part of an hour, tongue-tied, looking stupidly at the confluence of the blue veins on her arm, longing to tell her that his senses swam with the temptation of her touch and the rise and fall of her bosom, through the great love he had for her,

leasure you could give me? It would be

ewildered e

brot

gaily, gave his hand a final tap a

oulders and looked with agonizing deliciousness into his face-"don't you see that you want a wife to save you from omelettes that you have to use as kettle-h

hands had turned death cold and were wringing his heart. He took them from his shoulders, and, not unpicturesquely, kissed her finger-tips. Then he

orry-" he beg

ieces. "A man who can kiss a woman's hands like that

s lady. I said so long

'm a fool,

of horror. His goddess a

there might be something between you and Emmy and that a little encouragement might help you. Forgive me. You see," she went on, a

conscious of her own Zoraesque sufficiency to possess the true womanly intuition and sympathy; but still a princess who had the grand manner in her scorn of trivialities. Septimus's hand shook a little

e, I've never thought of her in that way. I suppose I don't think of women at all in that way," he went on, with a certain splendi

d baby," said Zora. "Gi

hand and threw the muti

he tail. If ever you want me badly send me the tail, and I'll come

om the ends of the e

appy man, with his

ugh a sudden dream of battle by a series of revolver shots. Wondering whether Wiggleswick had gone mad o

s the

d for the city, and wearing a flower in the buttonhole of his overcoat. "I've had to break open the f

hivering. "Do you mind

y if I disturbed you, but I couldn't wait. I'm off to the office and

e gray November light-Zora's carefully chosen curtains and blinds had not been drawn-Sypher, pink and shiny, his silk hat (which he w

er this thing," said he, "and

?" asked

thing on earth, b

d out my railway carr

what you're doing? Here you've worked out a scheme that may revol

like the book,

oing to pu

cour

much he'll take to let

wn expense," said Septimus

gratis to the gover

m copies," said Septim

ad, and paced the room from the wash-stand past

m hanged!

us ask

a vulture. Has it not struck you that, if the big gun is what I think, any go

ed Septimus, thinking vaguely of Mordaunt Prince in Naples and his overdr

a couple of hundre

e been speculating, and I'm afra

ootrail of the bed. "Next time you speculate come to me firs

too. There's also a motor car I've invented which goes by clockwork.

Sypher drily. "But I'll only take

om one pocket and a fou

full of verbiage which you had better send off to your solicitor to look through before you sign it. It will be all right. I'm going t

wonderingly, remarking that he didn

ing your fortune. Good-by

ehind Clem Sypher, he thrust the check beneath the bedclo