"And London! London is the capital of England. Why," I exclaimed,
beginning to see light, and wondering at myself for not having seen it
sooner, "you are at present talking to me in the English language."

"I fail to understand your meaning, and am even inclined to doubt that
you have any," said he, a little ruffled. "I am addressing you in the
language of human beings--that is all."

"Well, it seems awfully puzzling," said I; "but I hope you don't think I
have been indulging in--well, tarradiddles." Then, seeing that I was
making matters no clearer, I added: "I mean that I have not been telling
untruths."

"I could not think that," he answered sternly. "It would indeed be a
clouded mind which could mistake mere disordered fancies for willful
offenses against the truth. I have no doubt that when you have recovered
from the effects of your late accident these vain thoughts and
imaginations will cease to trouble you."

"And in the meantime, perhaps, I had better say as little as possible,"
said I, with considerable temper. "At present we do not seem able to
understand each other at all."

"You are right, we do not," he said; and then added with a grave smile,
"although I must allow that this last remark of yours is quite
intelligible."

"I'm glad of that," I returned. "It is distressing to talk and not to be
understood; it is like men calling to each other in a high wind, hearing