"Our interesting friend," he remarked, "seems to have been interrupted at
this point, probably by the commencement of that illness which had,
unfortunately, a fatal conclusion. Yet the meaning of what he writes is
perfectly clear. This substance, consolidated, I believe, into what you
term a bean, is not equally distributed. Therefore, I take it that you
may remain in your present condition for a longer or shorter period of
time. The potency of the first--er--dose, is nothing to go by. You
have, however, already learned how to render your present condition
eternal."
Burton sighed.
"The knowledge came too late," he said. "The tree had disappeared. It
was given away, by the Mr. Waddington I told you of, to a child whom he
met in the street."
"Dear me!" Mr. Cowper exclaimed gravely. "This is most disappointing.
Is there no chance of recovering it?
"We are trying," Burton replied. "Mr. Waddington has engaged a private
detective and we are also advertising in the papers."
"You have the beans still, at any rate," the professor remarked,
hopefully.
"We have the beans," Burton admitted, "but it is very awkward not
knowing how long one's condition is going to last. I might go out
without my beans one day, and find myself assailed by all manner of
amazing inclinations.
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