“Yes, but as much faster as a bicycle is faster than a tricycle. I can go faster than a four-wheeled motor of double the horsepower.”
“A doubtful advantage. The temptation to exceed the speed limit must be rather distressing.”
“Besides, being so much narrower, it can go where a motor cannot.”
“That would certainly be an advantage in a tight place, but I presume they don’t allow you to run on the pavement? By the bye,” continued Maurice, “I see that your gyro-car, as you call it, has no doors, and you have to vault over the side in getting in and out. That strikes me as being somewhat of an inconvenience, and an unnecessary one, to boot.”
“Not a bit of it. The car is built so low that it doesn’t matter. Besides, it’s an amphibious animal, old man; any sort of opening in the sides would hardly tend to increase its sea-worthiness.”
“You don’t mean to say that the thing goes in the water too?” said Maurice, genuinely surprised.
“Aha! I thought I’d surprise you. I tell you what, Maurice, we’ll go for a spin this afternoon, and I’ll show you how it goes, both on land and water: that is, if you’re not afraid to trust your precious skin to me.”
“My dear boy, I have made my will. Let us wait and see the condition of my pulse after luncheon.”