They now exchanged rather ponderous compliments on their respective birthdays. But in spite of their politeness I somehow got the impression that these two beings were in strong antagonism to one another, and that however much the emotions might be discouraged in Thule, feelings of jealously still existed. "On this auspicious occasion," said the Professor, "it is generally my custom to make you some slight offering. I have placed a power to read a manuscript to your order at the Central Office." "I thank you sincerely," said MZ04. "I had intended to do the same thing, but I think I have found something even more to your taste." He pointed at me with his booted hand. "Here," he said, "is rather a curious thing that I have found. You make a study of the old world and might be interested in it. I have no use for such curios myself and am happy to present it to you. In many respects--notably in its foolish use of the erect position--it resembles our second-class beings, but I believe it to be a genuine old-world relic." "I am of the same opinion," said the Professor, "and I am obliged to you for your generosity. Can it talk?" "Fluently," said MZ04, "but with a bad accent." I now said very decisively that I was a free man, that I did not belong to either of them, and that I absolutely declined to be handed as a slave or a chattel from one to the other. I repeated this in varying terms more than once. They took not the slightest notice of it, but waited patiently till I had finished. "I am busy to-day at the Heat and Light Control," said MZ04. "I fear that I must now leave you." "Going to walk?" asked the Professor. "No. I have taken my exercise for to-day. I shall disintegrate." Even as I looked at him, his substance became a smoky shadow, shimmering and vibrating. It grew rapidly fainter and fainter until it had vanished altogether. CHAPTER III "And now," said the Professor, "before we go any further there is one point on which I wish to be assured. You came from the house of MZ04 just now?" "I did." "Did you observe in him as he came up to slope from his front-door any tendency to puff and blow?" "He certainly did seem slightly short of breath." "Poor fellow! Poor fellow! It breaks my heart to hear it. I don't give him another hundred years to live. Sad that so intelligent a being should be snuffed out like a candle." The Professor did not look in the least as if it had broken his heart. So far as I was able to judge he seemed rather pleased than not. "That being settled," he continued, "I may now devote myself to you. You made some protests just now, based, as most protests are, on ignorance. You are not going to be a slave. You may regard me as your host. I shall treat you as a guest and I shall look upon you as a curiosity. Tell me at once what I can do for you."