"My son has been showing you about the place, has he?"
"Yes, sir. Red—I mean—"
"No, no. Call him Red. I call him that myself. Now tell me, what are you two up to, eh?"
Slim looked away. "Why—just exploring, sir."
The Industrialist turned to the Astronomer. "There you are, youthful curiosity and adventure-lust. The race has not yet lost it."
Slim said, "Sir?"
"Yes, lad."
The youngster took a long time in getting on with it. He said, "Red sent me in for something good to eat, but I don't exactly know what he meant. I didn't like to say so."
"Why, just ask cook. She'll have something good for young'uns to eat."
"Oh, no, sir. I mean for animals."