We found that no particular damage had been done to the instruments or other material. When we descended to the lower chamber, after an absence of fifteen or twenty minutes, Meigs had the key in the steel door and was standing at the entrance with Popham and Markham on either side of him. "Where did you get that key?" demanded the professor, one hand groping in his pocket. Heretofore he had been careful to keep the key upon his person. Small wonder that he was now surprised to find it in the possession of Meigs. "I found it on the floor," replied the broker with a good deal of dignity. "Probably you lost it out of your pocket when you fell from the stairs a few minutes ago." "What are you intending to do?" asked the professor quietly. "Professor Quinn, sir," returned Meigs with elaborate condescension, "we have reached the parting of the ways. While we were traveling through space, I and my friends could do nothing less than bear with your company, and with that of the rogue at your side; but now that we are safely moored on Mercury, and can debark, we see fit to withdraw ourselves and renounce further intercourse with you." "Ah!" murmured Quinn, a slow smile hovering about his thin lips. The smile caused some acerbity to manifest itself in the three gentlemen at the door. They drew themselves up haughtily. "Quinn," went on the broker sharply, "you lured us into your castle and abducted us from our native orb, with small regard for the feelings of our relatives or friends, and no consideration whatever for the business interests with which we were engaged; so——" "Your business interests had my every consideration," interrupted the professor. Meigs took no notice of the remark. "So," he continued, "remembering these wrongs, we feel that we can no longer associate with you. As for Munn"—here he turned a fastidious eye in my direction—"he is utterly impossible to men of our social standing. This planet, you tell us, is three thousand miles in diameter. May we request that you and Munn take one end of the diameter and leave the other end to us?" The professor laughed softly and seated himself. "Sit down, Mr. Munn," said he. "We have been ostracized by our fellow-exiles. Let us see how well they get along without us." "We bid you farewell," finished Meigs loftily. Thereupon he turned the key, threw open the door—and dropped on the threshold as though he had been shot! Markham and Popham cried aloud, threw their arms across their faces and reeled back. A blast as from a furnace drove in at the opening, filling the chamber like a draft from Hades. I could scarcely breathe in the stifling atmosphere. "Hurry, Munn!" cried Quinn. "Drag Meigs away from the door or he’ll be burned to a crisp!" The broker was already smoking when I caught his ankles and jerked him inside. The professor slammed the door.