bring him to see the experiments if you like. All I reserve is that I
shall not be asked to explain the inner action of the machine. That must
remain a secret; but some day I hope to show you even that."

"Thanks."




CHAPTER IV.

THE ELECTRIC ORRERY.


"Half-moon Junction! Change here for Venus, Mercury, the Earth, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune!"

So I called in the style of a Clapham railway porter, as I entered the
observatory of Professor Gazen on the following night.

"What is the matter?" said he with a smile. "Are you imitating the
officials of the Universal Navigation Company in the distant future?"

"Not so distant as you may imagine," I responded significantly; and then
I told him all that I had seen and heard of the new flying machine.

The professor listened with serious attention, but manifested neither
astonishment nor scepticism.

"What do you think about it?" I asked. "What should I do in the case?"