The goblin grinned a very broad grin.
“You’re going to take out patents on our inventions, you say, Bob?” he remarked.
“Yes,” the boy made reply.
“When you return from Goblinland, eh?”
“Yes.”
Fitz Mee gulped and screwed his features. Then he began to chuckle silently, and at last he burst out laughing.
“What’s the matter?” Bob inquired, half in wonder, half in pique.
“Oh, it’s so funny,” croaked the goblin, and he went into another spasm of rasping, cackling laughter.
“It must be funny,” the boy grunted peevishly. “But what’s so funny?”
“The thought of your returning from Goblinland, Bob,” Fitz Mee replied, sobering and wiping his eyes.