"I want you to give this paper to Mr. Lansing, and ask him what he thinks. Ask him to read it, and tell him what Brick says; and then let him make up his mind whether we had better go on or not."
"I do not care for nobody's mind but yours," said the naturalist.
"Let us have Mr. Lansing's first."
So Mr. Herder carried away the answer to Mr. Lansing, and in a few days came back to report progress.
"He has read it," said Mr. Herder, "and he says he do not make anything of it at all. He leaves the whole thing wiz you."
"Does he understand what is hinted at by these half disclosures?"
"He says he does not understand nozing of it — he knows not what they mean — he does not know whether to go on, whether to stop here. He says, and I say, you judge and do what you please."
"I confess, Mr. Herder, that Mr. Brick's kind warning has made me suspicious of his and his principal's good faith; and my will would be to go on."
"Go on, then!" said the naturalist — "I say so too — go on! I do not trust that Brick no more than you do; and Mr. Ryle, him I do not trust. Now what will you do next?"
"Take exceptions to the answer, where it seems to be insufficient, and make them answer again."