He sniffed at his hands, then walked into the outer office, straight toward the desk of one of the young women stenographers. He leaned over her, and asked one question:
"What system of shorthand do you write?"
"Pitman," was the astonished reply.
The scientist sniffed. Yes, it was unmistakably a sniff. He left her suddenly and went to the other stenographer. Precisely the same thing happened; standing close to her he asked one question, and at her answer sniffed. Miss Clarke passed through the outer office to mail a letter. She, too, had to answer the question as the scientist squinted into her eyes, and sniffed.
"Ah," he said, at her answer.
Then from one to another of the employees of the bank he went, asking each a few questions. By this time a murmur of amusement was running through the office. Finally The Thinking Machine approached the cage in which sat Dunston, the receiving teller. The young man was bent over his work, absorbed.
"How long have you been employed here?" asked the scientist, suddenly.
Dunston started and glanced around quickly.
"Five years," he responded.
"It must be hot work," said The Thinking Machine. "You're perspiring."