And I bowed my rather striking head and
rested the point of my forefinger upon my forehead. Thought crystallises
more quickly for me when I assume this attitude.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lezard fold his arms and sit frowning
at infinity.
Dr. Fooss lay back in a big, deeply padded armchair and closed his
prominent eyes. His pipe went out presently, and now and then he made
long-drawn nasal remarks, in German, too complicated for either Lezard or
for me to entirely comprehend.
"We must try to get her as far away from here as possible," mused Lezard.
"Is Oyster Bay _too_ far and too cruel?"
I pondered darkly upon the suggestion. But it seemed unpleasantly like
murder.
"Lezard," said I, "come, let us reason together. Now _what_ is woman's
besetting emotion?"
"Curiosity?"
"Very well; assuming that to be true, what--ah--quality particularly
characterizes woman when so beset."
"Ruthless determination."
"Then," said I, "we ought to begin my exciting the curiosity of Professor
Bottomly; and her ruthless determination to satisfy that curiosity should
logically follow."
"How," he asked, "are we to arouse her curiosity?"
"By pretending that we have knowledge of something hitherto undiscovered,
the discovery of which would redound to our scientific glory.
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