"I know that wheel is on fire," I said, not to be turned from
the direct and certain line of assertion into the winding ways
of argument.

"No matter," replied Halicarnassus, conceding everything, "we
are insured."

Upon the strength of which consolatory information I went in.
By and by a man entered and took a seat in front of us. "The
box is all afire," chuckled he to his neighbor, as if it were
a fine joke. By and by several people who had been looking out
of the windows drew in their heads, went into the next car.

"What do you suppose they did that for?" I asked Halicarnassus.

"More aristocratical. Belong to old families. This is a new
car, don't you see? We are parvenus."

"Nothing of the sort," I rejoined. "This car is on fire, and
they have gone into the next one so as not to be burned up."

"They are not going to write books, and can afford to run away
from adventures."

"But suppose I am burned up in my adventure?"

"Obviously, then, your book will end in smoke."

I ceased to talk, for I was provoked at his indifference. I
leave every impartial mind to judge for itself whether the