“The which?”
“The—Hawkins—Hydro—Vapor—Lift!”
“Hydro-Vapor?” I murmured. “Whatever is that? Steam?”
“Certainly.”
“And lift, I presume, is English for elevator?”
“The words are synonymous,” said Hawkins coldly.
“Then why the dickens didn't you call it a steam elevator and be done with it? Wasn't that sufficiently complicated?”
“Oh, Griggs, you never seem able to understand! Now, a steam elevator—so called—is an old proposition. A Hydro-Vapor Lift is entirely new and sounds distinctive!”
“Yes, it sounds queer enough,” I admitted.
“Just examine it,” said the inventor joyously, leading me to the box.