“Discovered by a man named Columbus,” said Miss Baffin.
“Your dress is an odd one,” continued the Hermit. “Are you a fighting man?”
“A fighting man! Oh, no, of course not. I’m a Professor.”
“Then this is not a weapon that you carry.”
“Bless my soul, my dear sir! Why, this is an umbrella! Tilly, we have to deal with a very primitive condition of things here. It is both entertaining and instructive.”
“What is it for?”
“I will show you. Suppose it begins to rain, I untie this string and open the umbrella, so! Now don’t be alarmed! It is perfectly harmless, I assure you!”
The holy man had retreated suddenly into the furthest recess of the cell.
“While it rains I hold it in this manner. When it clears, I shut it up, thus, and put it under my arm.”
“Wonderful! wonderful!” exclaimed the Hermit. “I thought it was an implement of war. The world beyond us evidently has surpassed us.”