“I cannot offer you cigars,” he said, “for there is a shortage of those luxuries here, but I can give you some excellent tobacco.” He took the bundle from under his arm and laid upon the table some long clay pipes and a stone jar filled with tobacco.
“There’s a great consumption of pipes among our people,” he said, “and we manufacture these ourselves—both the long and the short variety.”
The Professor smiled.
“You seem to have extensive facilities for various kinds of manufacturing,” he remarked with meaning.
Captain Robert laughed outright.
“I’m not going to give you any information on that point,” he said, “but I can tell you something of interest.”
“Yes?”
“The news of your capture and of your air-ship,” continued Captain Robert, “has been forwarded to headquarters and it seems to have made, as I predicted, quite a stir.”
“Ah! is that all!” answered the Professor, with some disappointment.
“By no means,” replied Robert. “A certain important personage is on his way here. To-morrow you will receive a visit.”