"'I thought I told you explicitly to keep quiet, Graham, and here you are gadding about the moment you awake, casting all my cautions to the winds.' "'Now, Doctor--and you, too, Temple--as to where I spent the evening, I did so with Volinè, at her invitation, and I assure you I was well taken care of----' "'Really; I don't doubt it! What a lucky fellow you are! And when is the fatal day to be?' said Temple carelessly, and with a merry laugh, determined to have his say for once, in spite of the Doctor's presence, yet little dreaming of the awful signification his last lightly-spoken words had for me. "'I'm real glad to see you in such spirits, Mr. Temple, after all we have gone through lately,' I answered, trying to turn our conversation to subjects less personal and painful to me. 'What are your plans for the future, Doctor? Have you seen anything more of the King?' "'Well, Graham,' said the Doctor, evidently as pleased as myself to see the conversation taking a more practical turn, for an argument of any feminine subject was his one abomination. 'Well, Temple and I had a long consultation with the King yesterday; and we are about to hold a grand scientific Congress here in Edos, to which all the leading philosophers are to be invited, and then we are going to discuss I don't know how many important subjects. The King is quite enthusiastic, especially on one great project we are contemplating, namely, the establishment of regular communication between Earth and here. I have, also, a bit of news for you. I heard yesterday from our old friend Kios that that rascal, that villain Perodii, had destroyed the poor _Sirius_--wrecked her completely!' "'Doctor, you don't mean that?' "'But I do; and if I were a younger man, I would thrash him soundly for his mischief.' "'Ah, Doctor,' I answered, 'Perodii is having his day, but retribution may be coming swiftly.' "'Has come, but too late for me. The King has banished him from here.' "'A worse fate than that awaits him, or I am no prophet,' I added, in a tone of hatred. "'But your plans, Doctor?'