They were alarmed at my sudden appearance, not knowing whence I came nor what sort of an animal I might be. I quickly calmed their troubled minds by using language they easily understood, and explained that I was neither a ghost nor a spirit, but a mere citizen of another world, having, for a limited period, a free excursion ticket to a thousand worlds, and that I chose their planet as one whereon to spend a fleeting period.
Not having been accustomed to such visitants, they were at first skeptical and thoroughly overawed at my presence.
I purposely became as familiar as possible and cautioned them to remain in the selfsame room and spread no notice of my presence. To this request they reluctantly consented.
After my nonplused auditors gained their senses somewhat they ventured to reply to my coaxing questions; these finally led to the following interrogations on their part:
"How large is your world?" came a question from one.
"Not quite so large as this one," I replied.
"Have you much soil there?"
"A million times more than you have here."
"What a wonderfully rich world! The people must be gloriously happy with such fabulous wealth around them."
"The bulk of my fellow-men there are not happy," I sighed. "So many spend their lives looking for diamonds and gold, the most of whom are doomed to disappointment."