As I saw that he was really interested in the subject and observed
that he was a very temperate man who did not seem to be romancing, I
told him something of my experiences with /Taduki/, to which he
listened with a kind of rapt but suppressed excitement. When I
affected disbelief in the whole business, he differed from me almost
rudely, asking why I rejected phenomena simply because I was too dense
to understand them. I answered perhaps because such phenomena were
inconvenient and upset one's ideas. To this he replied that all
progress involved the upsetting of existent ideas. Moreover he
implored me, if the chance should ever come my way, to pursue
experiments with /Taduki/ fumes and let him know the results.

Here our conversation came to an end for suddenly a band that was
braying near by, struck up "God save the Queen," and we hastily
exchanged cards and parted. I only mention it because, had it not
occurred, I think it probable that I should never have been in a
position to write this history.

The remarks of my acquaintance remained in my mind and influenced it
so much that when the occasion came, I did as a kind of duty what,
however much I was pressed, I am almost sure I should never have done
for any other reason, just because I thought that I ought to take an
opportunity of trying to discover what was the truth of the matter. As
it chanced it was quick in coming.

Here I should explain that I attended the dinner of which I have
spoken not very long after a very lengthy absence from England,
whither I had come to live when King Solomon's Mines had made me rich.
Therefore it happened that between the conclusion of my Kendah