"Don't be such a Billy," retorted Cyril with a frown; "the fishes are used to being drowned."
After Noah went into the Ark and had shut the door, the gloom reappeared. The show was over.
"That's a little idea of my own," remarked the Wizard as he put the machine away. "Amusing, isn't it?"
The Twins nodded. Then he invited the children to look through a hole in the wall of the cave, and they saw a small room.
"That's my hospitable bedroom," he said, "that I've endowed myself with. When I'm down in the mumps from being crouped up here so long, I go there and wrap myself up in thoughts all nice and smug. It is fitted with the epileptic light, rheumatic bells, and all the latest infections.
"Now, what were we talking about before? Ah yes! My inventions. None of your modern up-to-date rubbish, only inventions of the future for me. None of your wireless telephony and wireless telegraphy for me. Listen to this." He called out—
"Number A. 1. Sea Power! Have you been successful in that last little financial venture, Sire?"
There were rushing sounds, as of waves, at the far end of the cave, and a muffled voice replied—
"No, Cabalistic One, I have lost again. Just my luck! Dash—sh—sh—" which resolved itself into the swish-swish of rolling surf. Then all was quiet again.
"The reply of a friend of mine residing far away at a place called 'The Billows,'" explained the Wizard in an offhand way. "I help him in his little transactions, which are sometimes rather—in fact very—!" and raising his arm he smothered a laugh in his yellow satin sleeve which was not pleasant to hear. "I always like to laugh up there," he explained, as the children looked surprised.