"In your old line--beetles and so forth?"

"Yes," said the Professor solemnly.

Harviss looked at him with equal gravity. "Well, I'm sorry for
that," he said, "because it takes you out of our bailiwick. But I
suppose you've made enough money out of 'The Vital Thing' to permit
yourself a little harmless amusement. When you want more cash come
back to us--only don't put it off too long, or some other fellow
will have stepped into your shoes. Popularity don't keep, you know;
and the hotter the success the quicker the commodity perishes."

He leaned back, cheerful and sententious, delivering his axioms with
conscious kindliness.

The Professor, who had risen and moved to the door, turned back with
a wavering step.

"When did you say another volume would have to be ready?" he
faltered.

"I said October--but call it a month later. You don't need any
pushing nowadays."

"And--you'd have no objection to letting me have a little advance
now? I need some new instruments for my real work."

Harviss extended a cordial hand. "My dear fellow, that's
talking--I'll write the cheque while you wait; and I daresay we can
start up the cheap edition of 'The Vital Thing' at the same time, if