electric wires, and knobs and buttons.  A bright fire burned on the hearth.  The thick Brussels carpet was littered with pot-boilers, all fizzing, and sputtering, and steaming, like so many young Curates at a Penny Reading.  Suddenly the Philosopher looked up.  He spoke to himself.  “Everything is ready,” he said, and pressed a button by his side.  There was a sound as of a Continent expectorating, a distant nose seemed to twang, the door opened, and a tall lantern-jawed gentleman, wearing a goat-beard and an expression of dauntless cunning, stepped into the room.

“I guess you were waiting round for me,” said Colonel zedekiah D. GOBANG (for it was indeed he), and sat down in an empty armchair, as if nothing had happened.

The Philosopher appeared not to notice.  “Next character, please,” he said, pulling out a long stop, and placing his square leg on the wicket which gave admission to his laboratory, while he waited for the entrance of the Third Man.  There came a murmur like the buzz of a ton of blasting powder, in a state of excitement.  A choir of angels seemed to whisper “Beefsteak and Pale Ale,” as Lord John BULLPUP dashed, without a trace of emotion, into the room, and sneezed three times without stopping to wipe his boots on the mat.

“One more,” said the Philosopher.  He hurled himself, feet first, at the ceiling, knocked his head against the floor, and called down the tube. “J’y suis!” came the answer, and the typical, light-hearted Frenchman, M. le Docteur reversi, with his thousand thunders, and his blue lower chest, tripped jauntily up to the other three.  “And now,” remarked the Philosopher, “we have got the lot complete.  The story can start.  Hurry up!  Hark forrard! En avant!”

CHAPTER II.

“Lend me your ears,” said the Philosopher.  They lent them, but without interest.  Yet they were all keen business men.  “Attention, my friends!” he continued, somewhat annoyed.  “You know why I have summoned you.  We have to make another journey together.  The moon, the sea, the earth—­we have voyaged and journeyed to them, and they are exhausted.  It remains to visit the Sun, and to perform the journey in an iceberg.  Do you see?  Colonel GOBANG will supply the craft, Lord John BULLPUP the stupid courage, and you, M. le Docteur,” he added, admiringly, “will of course take the cake.”

He paused, and waited for Lord JOHN’s reply.  It came prompt, and in the expected words.

“Is it a plum-pudding cake?” said Lord John.  The rest laughed heartily.  They loved their jokes, small and old.

“Are we agreed?”

“We are.”

“Have you anything to ask?”

“Nothing.  When do we start?”

“We are on our way.”

“Shall we not melt as we approach?”

“Certainly not.”

“How so?”

“We shall have a constant frost.”