"I'd like to sleep on that," he said cautiously. "Do you mind if I defer judgment for the night? I haven't had any sleep for thirty-six hours, and I'll just pass out, if I don't get some."
"All right," Bell said. "You think it over. With The Enemy out of the way it might be easier to find your Atavars, too, you know. Nothing ever works right while he's in power."
When Hugh awoke his brain did not function properly for quite a few seconds. The bed had had fleas in it, and the changeless brilliancy of the "daylight" had kept him awake a long time despite his exhaustion. The sight of the black-clad figure seated on the nearby stool did not register at first.
"Good mornin'," he said muzzily. Then, "You!"
"Me," the man in the top hat replied ungrammatically. "I had to wait for the two Princes to get out of the house before I could see you. I've been looking for you."
"You've been looking for me," Hugh repeated angrily, sitting up in bed. He noticed with only faint surprise that the wall of the room was plainly visible through the visitant's stiff shirt bosom. "Well, you'll have to solidify a minute if you're going to do me any good. I'm supposed to touch you."
"Not yet. When you do, this image will vanish, and I've got a few things to talk to you about before that happens. I got bounced back two hundred years in time just on account of a fool mistake you made, and I'm as anxious to see you straightened out as you are myself." He hiccuped convulsively. "Luckily I'm a book collector with a special bent towards Cruikshank. I had sense enough to consult Dr. Dee while I was behind the times, and found out where you were. Do you know?"
"Where I am? Why, I'm Outside."
"Use your noggin. How much does 'Outside' mean to you, anyhow?"