realize that ether, if for a moment we adopt Challenger's
preposterous supposition, is a universal substance which is the
same here as at the other side of the world? Do you for an
instant suppose that there is an English ether and a Sumatran
ether? Perhaps you imagine that the ether of Kent is in some way
superior to the ether of Surrey, through which this train is now
bearing us. There really are no bounds to the credulity and
ignorance of the average layman. Is it conceivable that the
ether in Sumatra should be so deadly as to cause total
insensibility at the very time when the ether here has had no
appreciable effect upon us whatever? Personally, I can truly say
that I never felt stronger in body or better balanced in mind in
my life."

"That may be. I don't profess to be a scientific man," said I,
"though I have heard somewhere that the science of one
generation is usually the fallacy of the next. But it does not
take much common sense to see that, as we seem to know so little
about ether, it might be affected by some local conditions in
various parts of the world and might show an effect over there
which would only develop later with us."

"With `might' and `may' you can prove anything," cried Summerlee
furiously. "Pigs may fly. Yes, sir, pigs _may_ fly--but they
don't. It is not worth arguing with you. Challenger has filled
you with his nonsense and you are both incapable of reason. I
had as soon lay arguments before those railway cushions."

"I must say, Professor Summerlee, that your manners do not seem
to have improved since I last had the pleasure of meeting you,"