site, concentrating his
discursive mind on Sypher's Cure and implicitly denying Zora's faith. A
simple-minded man in many respects, he would not have scorned to learn
wisdom out of the mouths of babes and sucklings; but out of the mouth of
Septimus what wisdom could possibly proceed? He laughed his suggestion away
somewhat blusteringly and launched out again on his panegyric of the Cure.
But his faith felt a quiver all through its structure, just as a great
building does at the first faint shock of earthquake.

"What made you say that about Zora Middlemist?" he asked when he had
finished.

"I don't know," replied Septimus. "It seemed to be right to say it. I know
when I get things into my head there appears to be room for nothing else
in the world. One takes things for granted. When I was a child my father
took it for granted that I believed in predestination. I couldn't; but I
did not dare tell him so. So I went about with a load of somebody else's
faith on my shoulders. It became intolerable; and when my father found out
he beat me. He had a bit of rope tied up with twine at the end for the
purpose. I shouldn't like this to happen to Zora."

This ended the discussion. The landlord at his door-post drew them into
talk about the heat, the emptiness of Paris and the happy lot of those who
could go into villeggiatura in the country. The arrival of a perspiring
cabman in a red waistcoat and glazed hat caused him to retire within and
administer to the newcomer's needs.

"One of my reasons for looking you up," said Sypher, "was to make my
apologies."

"Apologies?"

"Yes. Haven't you thought about the book on guns and wondered at not
hearing from me?"

"No," said Septimus. "When I've invented a thing the interest has gone.
I've just invented a new sighting apparatus. I'll show you the model if
you'll come to the hotel."

Sypher looked at his watch and excused himself on the ground of business
engagements. Then he had to dine and start by the nine o'clock train.

"Anyhow," said he, "I'm ashamed at not having done anything with the guns.
I did show the proofs to a naval expert, but he made all sorts of
criticisms which didn't help. Experts know everything that is known and
don't want to know anything that isn't. So I laid it aside."

"It doesn't matter in the least," said Septimus eagerly, "and if you want
to break the contract you sent me, I can pay you back the two hundred
pounds." But Sypher assured him that he h