lenses. I started, involuntarily.

"There! there!" he said, soothingly. "I did not perceive that your
attention was so entirely absorbed. I am honored by your interest--
the Utinam Club, it is my hobby, sir, and one not altogether
unworthy of the consideration of an intelligent man."

"I can quite understand that," said Indiman, who had joined us at
the window. "There is a distinct stimulus to the imagination in the
picture before us. And what a picture!--this eyeless, gray-faced,
architectural monstrosity, crowned with squat, domelike head of
coppery red, and set in that gigantic cadre of fifty-foot masonry!
Superb! Magnificent!"

"The honor of your acquaintance--"began Dr. Magnus.

"In two words," interrupted Indiman, smilingly. He made a brief
statement of the circumstances attendant upon the finding of the
Yale latch-key, and the proprietor of the Utinam Club listened
attentively.

"I have a passion for the unique," concluded Indiman, "and the
Utinam Club appears to possess claims of unusual merit in that
direction. I own frankly that I am curious as to its object and
qualifications for membership."

"They are quite simple," answered Dr. Magnus. "Indeed, the name of
the club explains its raison d'etre--Utinam, a Latin ejaculation
equivalent to our 'Would to Heaven!' or 'Would that I could be!' To
be eligible for membership in the Utinam Club, one must have had a