"Then you were going to be a demon king," said the admiring Hamilton. "But fortunately for you, Bones, the descent to L is not so easy—you've drawn a party wall across——"
"L stands for laboratory," explained the architect hurriedly. "An' where's the wall? God bless my jolly old soul, so I have! Anyway, that could have been rectified in a jiffy."
"Speaking largely," said Hamilton, after a careful scrutiny of the plan, "I think Mojeri has acted wisely. You will have to be content with the one room. What was the general idea of the house, anyway?"
"Science an' general illumination of the human mind," said Bones comprehensively.
"I see," said Hamilton. "You were going to make fireworks. A splendid idea, Bones."
"Painful as it is to undeceive you, dear old sir," said Bones, with admirable patience, "I must tell you that I'm takin' up my medical studies where I left off. Recently I've been wastin' my time, sir: precious hours an' minutes have been passed in frivolous amusement—tempus fugit, sir an' captain, festina lente, an' I might add——"
"Don't," begged Hamilton; "you give me a headache."
There was a look of interest in Bones's eyes.
"If I may be allowed to prescribe, sir——" he began.
"Thanks, I'd rather have the headache," replied Hamilton hastily.