rtrayed, picking off the game as it
comes down the opposite bank to drink, the character of the sportsman's
"bag" being indicated by several prone shapes that, indistinctly as they
are seen in the misty moonlight, yet admirably suggest the idea of slain
rhinoceros, buffalo, lion, and giraffe. And so on, all round the walls,
each picture in fact being a more or less truthful delineation of some
specially thrilling adventure experienced by a member of the club.

The Professor and the baronet, having entered the smoking-room, which
they found empty--as was quite usual at that hour of the day--selected
two of the capacious and exceedingly inviting-looking armchairs that
were scattered about the room; and, drawing them up to the fire--for the
weather was very bleak and chilly--ensconced themselves therein, and
settled themselves comfortably for a chat.

"Well, my dear Professor," began Sir Reginald, as he carefully selected
a cigar from a handsome and capacious case that he drew from his pocket,
"I need scarcely ask how you are, for you appear to be in superb
condition; but where have you been, and what doing, since we parted--
which is it, five or six years ago?"

"Rather over six years," answered the professor, in the strongly
German-accented English which he prided himself upon being
undistinguishable from the genuine British accent, but which it is not
necessary to inflict further upon the reader. "Rather over six years.
How time flies when a man is busy! Yet during those six years I have
done scarcely anything. Would you believe it? Beyond the writing of my
five-volume treatise on `Ancient Ophir: Its Geographical Situation, and
Story, as revealed in the Light of certain Recent Discoveries';
undergoing eighteen months' imprisonment in the fortress of Peter and
Paul, in Saint Petersburg, as a suspected Nihilist; and a two years'
fruitless exploration of central Mexico, I have done absolutely
nothing!"

Sir Reginald laughed heartily. "Upon my word, Professor, you are
insatiable," said he. "Why, the writing of your five-volume treatise--
which, by the way, I have read with the keenest enjoyment--should, of
itself, have found you ample occupation for those six years, one would
have supposed. But, not content with this, you have experienced for
eighteen months the manifold miseries of a Russian prison; and have
topped off with two years of wandering in Mexico--with more thrilling
adventures and hairbreadth escapes