“At last he felt the unmistakable grip of the kind and friendly hand upon his heart-strings, gently deadening their vibration, so he thought he would like to take one last voyage to glorious Venus, his favourite planet, to which he often went for short visits, and die there; so he called his son Dennis, after whom I am named, and told him of his intentions. “‘But you cannot work the _Regina_, father!’ remonstrated his son. “‘No, Dennis, I cannot, but you can and shall. Carry me to the shed and I will tell you what to do to board her, and how the gravity is overcome, and how to guide her safely, for we’ll go up together; you the head this time, and instead of being under my care, my lad, I must come under yours, for I know you’ll look after your feeble old father, as I have looked after you. And promise me, Dennis, my son, on your word of honour, that come what may you will never divulge the secret of the _Regina_ to any living soul unless your end is near, and then only to prevent its being lost.’ “‘I promise, father!’ replied Dennis, much overcome. “‘Thanks, my boy, thanks!’ his father uttered, feebly. ‘Now move me gently, for I am very weak, Denny, very weak; your father’s on his last legs!’ and he held out his hand to his son; but before Dennis could grasp it he exclaimed,—‘Oh, Dennis, Denny, my dear, dear boy, I am dying. Stoop down and I’ll tell you how to get on the vessel. All details are in the safe and if ... all is so dark, Denny, and I am so very cold ... closer ... closer ... Dennis, where are you?’ “‘I am here, father dear!’ cried his son, brokenly and in tears. ‘I am close beside you.’ And he took his father’s hand in his own and came very close. ‘See, I am here.’ “‘Thank you, Denny. Don’t leave me.’ “‘No, father, I am close beside you.’ “By this time the dying man’s voice was scarcely a whisper. ‘Denny’—and there was a painful silence—‘Denny, when ... you ... open ... the shed door ... you ... must ...’—and with this effort his voice failed; then he gave a faint sigh and fell back dead, and the secrets of the _Regina_ were lost.