Lecky stiffened to attention. His right hand shot to his cap visor in salute. His lips twisted into a travesty of a smile. For a few seconds he went through a strange series of posturings. He stood in the attitude of a boxer preparing to attack. He danced smartly on his toes. He bent double and touched the floor with the palms of his hands. He jumped up and down with his legs stiff. He stopped suddenly with his right hand at rigid salute. But his eyes were still vacant through every posture. Barter's face showed a glow of satisfaction. "He did exactly what I willed him to do! I am his master. He is my slave--even more abjectly than you are my slave, Naka Machi!" "But that would be impossible, my master," said Naka Machi, hissing again through his teeth as he sucked in his breath. "None could be more abjectly your slave than I." "Do not say anything is impossible," said Barter peevishly, "when I say otherwise. Anything is possible to me! Now, we'll send Lecky forth. I'll watch him through the heliotubes and control his every move. While I am directing Lecky you will prepare the table behind me for the first of our world-revolutionizing operations." "Yes, my master," said the Japanese humbly. "But first, it's just as well that Lecky is in a good humor, even though he is my slave. Where are the walnuts, Naka Machi?" The Japanese tendered a large walnut to Barter. Barter rose and approached Lecky who still stood at salute. He stopped a couple of paces in front of the soldierly man and held up the walnut as a man sometimes holds up food to a dog, bidding him "speak" before he may be fed. - - - Then Lecky did a strange thing. He began to jump up and down like a pleased child. His jumping caused him to lose his balance, but he recaptured it by pressing the backs of his hands against the floor. His hitherto expressionless eyes lost their dullness. Saliva dribbled at the corners of his mouth. Barter tossed him the walnut. Lecky held it under his right forefinger, against the _heel_ of his thumb, instead of between thumb and forefinger, as he lifted it to his mouth. Barter chuckled. "Even the human casement cannot wholly hide the ape, eh, Naka Machi?" said Barter. Naka Machi hissed. Barter returned to the porcelain slab banked with the lights and the keys. He readjusted the keys and his face became thoughtful again. Lecky turned smartly, still nibbling at his walnut, strode to the bronze door and let himself out. Through the heliotube directly above the key marked "B-2," Caleb Barter watched him go, and kept watching him as he made his way to the street. Barter looked ahead of his puppet, noting the cars which were parked at the curb. He saw a stately limousine. He grinned. The chauffeur was not in sight. Barter looked for him and found him at a table in a nearby restaurant, his back to the window. Barter looked back at his puppet and his face became serious with concentration.