'I was only thinking, suppose the governor came back and wanted me?'
Albert gazed contemptuously at this exhibition of timidity—the cowardice of a born valet, he deemed it.
'Oh, of course,' he exclaimed, 'if you—'
'I'll come,' said Simon boldly. 'If he wants me he must wait, that's all.'
They descended together in Hugo's private lift, direct from the dome; the Medical and Pharmaceutical Department was on the ground-floor. Simon acted as lift-man, and slammed the grill when they emerged.
'Just open that again, Si,' Albert requested him.
'Why? What's up?'
'Just open it.'
Albert was sniffing about like a dog that is trying to decide whether there is not something extremely attractive in the immediate neighbourhood. He re-entered the lift, and nosed it curiously.
Suddenly he bent down and peered under the cushioned seat of the lift, and drew forth an object that resembled in shape a canister of disinfectant powder.