“It’s all very well to write all these directions,” Curtis said, “but how am I to obtain the weeds?  I can’t go and fish for them.”

“You must engage the services of Mr. John Waley, formerly employed by the Brazilian Government in repairing marine cables.  He will do all you want for the sum of L200.”

Kelson left off writing, and, wishing Curtis good-night, walked out of the room.

“You’ll be deuced cold without an overcoat,” Curtis called out after him.  “Won’t you have mine?”

But there was no reply, and though Curtis strained his ears to listen, he could catch no sound of a vehicle.

Kelson left Curtis at twenty minutes past two.  At half-past two, Hamar, who had been sound asleep, was awakened by a loud rap.

“Kelson!” he gasped.  “How on earth did you get here?  Are you a projection?”

“Don’t worry me with questions,” Kelson replied.  “I have come to give you instructions.  A paper and ink, quick.”

Hamar obeyed with alacrity.

“On you,” Kelson wrote, “is conferred the property of invisibility—­a property common in Atlantis, and still possessed by the Fakirs of Hindoostan, the natives of Easter Island and certain tribes in New Guinea.  You must reach grade three in the scale of concentration, by concentrating, from five to six o’clock, every morning, on amalgamating yourself with the ether.  You must sit, with your head thrown back, gazing up into space—­allowing nothing to distract your mind.  Wholly and solely, your thoughts must be fixed on the ether.  This property of invisibility can only be successfully practised, when the third grade in the scale of concentration has been reached.  Carry out these instructions, and, in a week’s time, you will then be able to experiment—­to become invisible at will.  But before experimenting it will always be necessary to repeat the words ‘Bakra—­naka—­taksomana,’ and to swallow a pill, composed of two drachms of Derhens Voskry, one drachm of Karka Voli and one drachm of saffron.  Derhens Voskry and Karka Voli are a crimson and white species of seaweed, that grows on the hundred-fathom level, thirty miles west-southwest of the Aran Islands, Galway Bay.  Mr. John Waley, employed by the Brazilian Government for repairing cables, will procure these ingredients for you.  To become visible, you’ve only to repeat the words, ‘Bakra—­naka—­taksomana,’ backwards.”

“But how about my clothes?” Hamar asked.  “Will they disappear too?”

“Everything!” Kelson answered.  “Hat, boots, tie and breeches.  All you have on!  Good-night!” And walking out of the room, he leaped into the air, and flew downstairs.  But though Hamar listened attentively, he could not hear him leave the building—­there was no sound of any door.

When they met the following mid-day in Cockspur Street, Kelson remembered nothing of his visits.

“All I know is,” he said, “that the moment I got into bed, I fell asleep, and suddenly found myself standing in a kind of brown desert, talking to a tall man with most peculiar features and eyes, and a dazzling, white skin.  He informed me he had been an animal-trainer in the State of Ballyynkan, Atlantis, and was ordered to give me instructions as to the taming of the present day wild beast.