“How soon will visitors be admitted?’ asked Mr. World, with a shade of disappointment in his tone.
“Not until the matter now under consideration is settled. It may be two hours, perhaps two days,” was the indefinite reply.
“And where can we spend the interim with most profit and interest?” further interrogated Mr. World.
The guide, looking through a window, described a path leading to a lofty summit. “When you reach that elevation,” explained he, “you will see, in the busy vale beyond, the Wizard City.
“Most of the experiments performed in that wondrous vale are closed forever from the view of mortal man; but so much of the work as you are allowed to see will interest you for many days.”
“In my opinion such a privilege is greater than the one we are here denied,” smilingly spoke Miss Church-Member.
“True indeed, my friend, unless the climbing of the hill should prove to be a more arduous task than you imagine,” cautioned Mr. World.
“Each of you will be pleasantly surprised,” promptly affirmed the guide, “for they only can climb to that summit who do so willingly, and by them it is easily accomplished.”
“Is there no shorter way thither than by that winding path?” slowly asked Mr. World.
“There is but one shorter route, and that is underground. No one is permitted to go that way until he has passed the summit and has reached the seventh degree in the secret service of our Master.”