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"The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man

with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double

chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson.

"'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the

way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just

now. I fear that you have felt the draught.'

"'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I

felt the room to be a little close.'

"He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had

better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I

will take you up to see the machine.'

"'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.'

"'Oh, no, it is in the house.'

"'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?'

"'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that.

All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us

know what is wrong with it.'