by
my appreciation of your facilities for being entirely wrong. The great
theory of which you speak so confidently, sir, was born no earlier
than seven o'clock on the morning of this day. I was in my bed, sir;
the maid had come in with my tea and toast. 'Stop,' said I, sternly.
She stopped. And in those few moments of undisturbed reflection, sir,
the thought came to life, the thought which you so falsely attribute
to the Chinese, a savage tribe whose sole distinction is its ability
to fly kites."

After the murmurs of glee had died away, Fancher answered with spirit:

"Sir, that you are subject to periods of reflection I will not deny, I
cannot deny. Nor can I say honourably that I give my support to our
dramatic friend's defence of his idea. But, sir, when you refer to the
Chinese in terms which I cannot but regard as insulting, I am
prepared, sir, to--"

There were loud cries of "Order! Order! Order!" The wrathful Fancher
was pulled down into his chair by soothful friends and neighbours, to
whom he gesticulated and cried out during the uproar.

I looked toward old Fullbil, expecting to see him disturbed, or
annoyed, or angry. On the contrary he seemed pleased, as a little boy
who had somehow created a row.

"The excellent Fancher," said he, "the excellent Fancher is wroth. Let
us proceed, gentlemen, to more friendly topics. You, now, Doctor
Chord, with what new thing in chemics are you ready to astound us?"

The speech was addressed to a little man near me, who instantly
blushed crimson, mopping his brow in much agitation, and looked at the
table, unable for the moment to raise his eyes or speak a word.

"One of the greatest scientists of the time," said my friend in my
ear.

"Sir," faltered the little man in his bashfulness, "that part of the
discourse which related to the flying of kites has interested me
greatly, and I am ready to contend that kites fly, not, as many say,
through the influence of a demon or spirit which inhabits the
materials, but through the pressure of the wind itself."

Fancher, now himself again, said:

"I wish to ask the learned doctor whether he refers to Chinese kites?"

The little man hurriedly replied that he had not Chinese kites in his
mind at all.

"Very good, then," said the great critic. "Very good."

"But, sir," said Fullbil to little Chord, "how is it that kites may
fly without the aid of demons or spirits, if they are made by man? For
it is known, sir, that man ma