"I don't know, but I think so. Once, when I was standing in the forest, perfectly aware that creatures I could not see had stealthily surrounded me, the tension was brought to a crisis when over my face, from cheek to chin, stole a soft something, brushing the skin as delicately as a child's fingers might brush it." "Good Lord!" I breathed. A care-worn smile crept into his eyes. "A test for nerves, you think, Mr. Gilland? I agree with you. Nobody fears what anybody can see." There came the slightest movement beside me. "Are you trembling?" I asked, turning. "I was writing," she replied, steadily. "Did my elbow touch you?" "By-the-way," said Professor Farrago, "I fear I forgot to congratulate you upon your choice of a stenographer, Mr. Gilland." A rosy light stole over her pale face. "Am I to record that too?" she asked, raising her blue eyes. "Certainly," he replied, gravely. "But, professor," I began, a prey to increasing excitement, "do you propose to attempt the capture of one of these animals?" "That is what the cage is for," he said. "I supposed you had guessed that." "I had," murmured the pretty stenographer. "I do not doubt it," said Professor Farrago, gravely. "What are the chemicals for--and the tank and hose attachment?" "Think, Mr. Gilland." "I can't; I'm almost stunned by what you tell me." He laughed. "The rosium oxide and salts of strontium are to be dumped into the tank together. They'll effervesce, of course." "Of course," I muttered. "And I can throw a rose-colored spray over any object by the hose attachment, can't I?" "Yes." "Well, I tried it on a transparent jelly-fish and it became perfectly visible and of a beautiful rose-color: and I tried it on rock-crystal, and on glass, and on pure gelatine, and all became suffused with a delicate pink glow, which lasted for hours or minutes according to the substance.... Now you understand, don't you?" "Yes; you want to see what sort of creature you have to deal with." "Exactly; so when I've trapped it I am going to spray it." He turned half humorously towards the stenographer: "I fancy you understood long before Mr. Gilland did." "I don't think so," she said, with a sidelong lifting of the heavy lashes; and I caught the color of her eyes for a second. "You see how Miss Barrison spares your feelings," observed Professor Farrago, dryly. "She owes you little gratitude for bringing her here, yet she proves a generous victim." "Oh, I am very grateful for this rarest of chances!" she said, shyly. "To be among the first in the world to discover such wonders ought to make me very grateful to the man who gave me the opportunity." "Do you mean Mr. Gilland?" asked the professor, laughing.