rated."

"And still I do not envy you," I said. "You are not free from all
emotions yet. I have already found two in existence among you, and they
are two which I do not greatly love."

"What are they?" the Professor asked.

"Fear and jealousy."

"Lie still. You disturb my meditations."

For half an hour he remained silent with his eyes closed, but not, I
think, asleep. Then rising suddenly on all fours he said that we would
return to his dwelling, take our pills and compose ourselves for the
night.

"I would make a request to you," I said. "These pills which you take are
wonderful and I have already experienced their good effects. But I do
not think I could live upon them. Evolution has brought your digestive
apparatus to a pitch of perfection that I cannot hope to possess. What
can you do for me?"

"Our workers, the beings of the second class, are accustomed to kill an
ox, cut off a piece of it, subject it to the action of heat, and then
devour it. They make also a drink which has great attractions for them.
It has even led them to disobey, and to disobey is of course to die. I
am sorry to mention such filthy diet, but I can think of nothing else.
After all it might suit an old-world barbarian."

"I think it might suit me admirably."

"Then I will have second-class rations sent you every day from the
Central Office. I will cross-speak the Central Office now in order that
they may send you a piece of dead animal before you sleep. The one
condition I make is that I shall not see you engaged in tearing it to
pieces with your teeth. You will take it in your own room."

"And which will that be?"

"Oh," he said carelessly, "I shall keep you in the cupboard with my two
other pets, the plants. You shall have a mattress to lie on."

A few minutes later one of the working class brought a covered tray,
deposited it just inside the Professor's door, and departed.

"Your food," said the Professor. "Take it to the cupboard."

I did so with pleasure. I found on the tray a plate of excellent cold
roast beef and a knife and fork of rough workmanship and some flat hard
biscuits. There was also a bottle containing about a quart of strong old
ale. With this I was very well satisfied, and stretching myself on my
mattress, for which there was barely room in the cupboard, I composed
myself to slumber.

CHAPTER V

I passed a wretched night. I cannot assign this to the small size of my
sleeping-room, for I was abl