to his old
cell; it is the best in the prison; and then please bring me the record."

The old man took George and my father to the cell which he had occupied
twenty years earlier--but I cannot stay to describe his feelings on
finding himself again within it. The moment his grandfather's back was
turned, George said to my father, "And now shake hands also with your
son."

As he spoke he took my father's hand and pressed it warmly between both
his own.

"Then you know you are my son," said my father as steadily as the strong
emotion that mastered him would permit.

"Certainly."

"But you did not know this when I was walking with you on Friday?"

"Of course not. I thought you were Professor Panky; if I had not taken
you for one of the two persons named in your permit, I should have
questioned you closely, and probably ended by throwing you into the Blue
Pool." He shuddered as he said this.

"But you knew who I was when you called me Panky in the temple?"

"Quite so. My mother told me everything on Friday evening."

"And that is why you tried to find me at Fairmead?"

"Yes, but where in the world were you?"

"I was inside the Musical Bank of the town, resting and reading."

George laughed, and said, "On purpose to hide?"

"Oh no; pure chance. But on Friday evening? How could your mother have
found out by that time that I was in Erewhon? Am I on my head or my
heels?"

"On your heels, my father, which shall take you back to your own country
as soon as we can get you out of this."

"What have I done to deserve so much goodwill? I have done you nothing
but harm?" Again he was quite overcome.

George patted him gently on the hand, and said, "You made a bet and you
won it. During the very short time that we can be together, you shall be
paid in full, and may heaven protect us both."

As soon as my father could speak he said, "But how did your mother find
out that I was in Erewhon?"

"Hanky and Panky were dining with her, and they told her some things that
she thought strange. She cross-questioned them, put two and two
together, learned that you had got their permit out of them, saw that you
intended to return on Friday, and concluded that you would be sleeping in
Sunch'ston. She sent for me, told me all, bade me scour Sunch'ston to
find you, intending that you should be at once escorted safely over the
preserves by me. I found your inn, but you had given us the slip. I
tried first Fairmead and