“You must know then, doctor, that the main-spring of it consists of a huge steel bow, and I thought you might have heard something of this when you alluded to my having two strings to my bow.”
“No; I have heard nothing whatever of your plans, but never mind about the two strings, Mr Falcon, so that you stick to one bow.”
“You may be sure I shall do that, for it is by this power I shall be able to ascend.”
“What do you mean, Mr Falcon?”
“To be more explicit, doctor, I shall first pass into space through the instrumentality of an enormous cross-bow.”
“Then you will be the arrow?”
“Yes, and will face the inevitable like a bird.”
“Ay, like a Falcon, you might have said.”
“Mind, doctor, what use you make of an unsullied name.”
“I shall do it no harm if you don’t yourself, sir; but say what you like, Mr Falcon, I don’t believe you will ever fly unless you have a limb of the law at your heels.”