of, there died the hero of the greatest
discovery which has ever been made since the world began to spin upon
its orbit."

"Will Miss Edith be back to-morrow?" Burton asked.

The professor stared at him.

"Miss Edith?" he repeated. "Oh! my daughter? Is she not in?"

"She is away for two days, your servant told me," Burton replied.

"Perhaps so--perhaps so," the professor agreed. "She has gone to her
aunt's, very likely, in Chelsea. My sister has a house there in
Bromsgrove Terrace."

Burton rose to his feet. He held out his hand for the manuscript.

"I am exceedingly obliged to you," he said. "Now I must go."

The professor gripped the manuscript in his hand. He was no longer a
harmless and benevolent old gentleman. He was like a wild animal about
to be robbed of its prey.

"No," he cried. "You must not take these away. You must not think of
it. They are of no use to you. Leave me the sheets, just as they are.
I will go further back. There are several words at the meaning of which
I have only guessed. Leave them with me for a few days, and I will make
you an exact translation."

"Very well," Burton assented.

"And one bean?" the professor begged. "Leave me one bean only? I
promise not to eat it, not to dissect it, not to subject it to
experiments of any sort. Let me just have it to look at, to be sure
that what you have told me is not an hallucination."

Burton shook his head.

"I dare not part with one. I am going straight back to test the leaf
theory. If it is correct, I will keep my promise. And--will you
remember me to Miss Edith when she returns, professor?"

"To Miss Edith? Yes, yes, of course," Mr. Cowper declared,
impatiently. "When shall you be down again, my young friend?" he went
on earnestly. "I want to hear more of your experiences. I want you to
tell me the whole thing over again. I should like to get a signed
statement from you. There are several points in connection with what
you say, which bear out a favorite theory of mine."

"I will come in a few days, if I may," Burton assured him.

The professor walked with his guest to the front door. He seemed
reluctant to let him go.

"Take care of yourself, Mr. Burton," he enjoined. "Yours is a precious
life. On no account subject yourself to any risks. Be careful of the
crossings. Don't expose yourself to inclement weather. Keep away from
any place likely to harbor infectious disease. I should very much like
to have a meeting in London of