“Because, as I have said before, this man, or call him what you will, has got some design upon you. What that design is will probably appear shortly. And he will not hinder the success of it by allowing anything to happen to me.” “And if it succeeds?” “Then it will depend on circumstances not now evident what will become of me.” “And if it fails?” “Then I think that you and I are certain to be put to death unless we can manage to make our escape from this place.” “Which appears hardly to be expected.” “Yes, hardly to be expected, but the unexpected happens.” “And now, Jack,” said I, “I agree with you in all that you have said; but do you know why he is sending you away?” “Well, no, I don’t.” “I’ll tell you why: he fears your influence over me. I came to that conclusion as I lay awake last night. And he means to try on some new game to-day or to begin to try. But as I thought over all that I couldn’t but go on to ask, why does he want me and not you, and why is he shy of you? What do you think?” “I can’t say, Bob, unless it be that I am not clever enough.” “Clever! you’re a modest man, Jack, I know, but if I did not know you to be genuine I should say now that some of the modesty was put on. Not clever enough? You’ve seen through this fellow sooner and farther than I. You might better say too clever, but that is not it either.” “Well, what is it, then?” “You are too good for him. You have too quick and clear a perception of what is right, and you are not ready enough to let the lust of knowledge blind your conscience. But, please God, this fellow will find that I am not after all quite the sort of man he takes me to be.” “My dear Bob, I am just as likely as you are to have dust thrown in the eyes of my conscience, only a different sort of dust. Your turn has come first, that is all. You’ll baffle him and then my turn perhaps won’t come at all. Let us both keep our eyes open to-day. If I can learn how to manage those cars of theirs, and if they give us half a chance, we will make a run for it.” “Do you forget the light last night?” “I forget nothing, but we will give them the slip somehow.” “Well, perhaps we may, for one thing is clear to me, Jack: those fellows once they come among us have to work under the same conditions as we.” “Did not Dr. Leopold say something of that sort?” “Yes, and he was right; all that we have seen proves it: everything that they do is done by some chemical or mechanical or other contrivance, they have to get round their work just as we have; they know more of nature than we do, and so they can do more. But if we knew as much we could do as much as they.” “Well, all that is so much in our favour.” We were now at the foot of the stairway, and it was within a few minutes of nine. So we shook hands and parted. Jack went up the stairway, and I made my way to the square.