"I made no answer for a time, and then I said:
"'Who are you?'
"'A name,' he replied, 'is a power; I won't give you my name although I would like to, for this is a great deed and a funny one.'
"'What is your planet?' quoth I.
"'I won't tell you that,' he replied; 'you might read my signs and come after me later on.'
"I could not but admire the immense impertinence of his deed.
"'I know your sign,' said I, 'for you have already made it three times with your hand, and there is only one planet of these systems which has evolved the fifth race, so I know your planet. Your symbol is the Mule, and Uriel is your Regent; he will be coming after you soon, so you had better go away while you have time.'
"'If he comes,' said the man, 'I'll put him in a bottle, and I'll put you in a bottle too. I won't go for another while, the joke is too good, and this is only the commencement of it.'
"'You will be caught by the second syllable,' I warned him.
"'I'll put it in a bottle,' said he grinning at me. 'No,' he continued, 'I won't be caught, I've made my calculations, and it's not due yet a while.'