"First of all," he said, "I must test the truth of this. I cannot run
any risks. I must go and eat a leaf. If in three months no change has
taken place in me, I will lend you a bean to examine. I can do no more
than that. Until this matter is absolutely settled, they are worth more
than life itself to me."
Mr. Cowper seemed annoyed.
"Surely," he protested, "you are not going to ask me to wait three
months until I can examine one of these?"
"Three months will soon pass," Burton replied. "Until that time is up,
I could not part with them."
"But you can't imagine," the professor pleaded, "how marvelously
interesting this is to me. Remember that I have spent all my life
digging about among the archives and the literature and the
superstitions of these pre-Egyptian peoples. You are the first man in
the world, outside a little circle of fellow-workers, to speak to me of
this perfect food. Your story as to how it came into your hands is the
most amazing romance I have ever heard. It confirms many of my
theories. It is wonderful. Do you realize what has happened? You,
sir, you in your insignificant person," the professor continued, shaking
his finger at his visitor, "have tasted the result of thousands of years
of unceasing study.
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