Ricardo locked the door carefully, putting the key in his pocket, and by the time Mrs. Battleby appeared with the supper tray, the two friends were talking gaily of a new drama that had just created some sensation in the town. “I wish you would come out with me sometimes, Professor,” the Doctor was saying, “it would do you good to see some of these novelties and listen to the discussions over them.” “Ah! that it would, Sir,” said Mrs. Battleby, who was never backward in joining in the conversation, “it would do the Sig-nor all the good in the world, instead of poring over them nasty, musty vollums of his, as must be enough to make any gentleman’s ’ead ache.” “No! no! no!” exclaimed Ricardo, waving their suggestions away with his hand, “I cannot! It is impossible! I have other things to do.” “Or if you would ’ave your friends here more of an evening, Sir,” continued the landlady, “nice, light-’arted young people, as could play the banjo to you and sing a bit, I’m sure it would cheer you up, and dissolve you from your studies.” “Nonsense! you don’t know what you’re talking about,” exclaimed the Professor, impatiently. “Put down the tray, Mrs. Battleby, like a good creature, and leave the Doctor and me to ourselves. We have some important matters to discuss.” “Certainly, Sir,” said Mrs. Battleby, as she bounced the tray down on the table with an energy that proved her wounded feelings, “and I ’ope as when you rings the bell, you won’t mind my gal Hannah coming up to clear, as I’ve got a little marketing to do, and I knows you don’t like the things lying about too long.” “O! dear no,” said Ricardo, “let Hannah clear the table by all means, and tell her to be quick about it, Mrs. Battleby, as my friend and I have business to attend to.” “Very good, Sir!” replied the landlady, as she left them to themselves. Steinberg and Ricardo soon dispatched the simple meal set before them, and then the former, drawing out his watch, remarked that if he was to get home that night, he thought they had better set to work in their search after the Invisible World.