Yet some one more important said it many years before—
"Great wits are sure to madness near allied,
And thin partitions do their bounds divide."
"So the matter rests there?" Guest asked.
"Yes," Sir William answered; "but I have altered the day of the demonstration. There is no need to wait after all! Everything is prepared. I have sent out cards for Friday next, three days from now."
Guest poured out some more of the spirit. He laughed rather contemptuously.
"Can't wait, then!" he said. "I'm glad I'm free from these entanglements, William. Of course it doesn't matter when the people come to see the thing at work. As you say, everything is quite ready. But there is another thing to be considered. What about Rathbone? He's no more use to us now, and he must be got rid of. Shall I go down-stairs and kill him?"
He said it with the indifference with which he might have proposed to wash his hands.