COUNT D’ARTIGAS 33

seriously and without paying the least attention to the on-
lookers.

It was child’s play, but a child would not have played
with such undisturbed gravity.

“Ts he quite mad, then?” the Count asked, and in spite
of his usual imperturbability he appeared to feel some.
disappointment.

“T warned you, sir, that nothing coule be got out of
him,” the Principal replied.

“Will he not take any notice of us?”

“Tt will he difficult to make him.” And then turn-
ing towards the attendant, the Principal said, “Speak
to him, Gaydon; perhaps your voice will induce him
to answer.”

“ He is sure to answer me,” said Gaydon.

Then touching his charge on the shoulder, he pro-
nounced his name in a low tone. :

The afflicted man raised his head, and of all those present
he saw no one but his keeper, although Count d’Artigas,
Captain Spade, who had just rejoined him, and the
Principal, stood round him in a circle.

“M. Roch,’ Gaydon said, speaking in English,
“Here are some visitors who wish to see you.

They are interested in your health .. . in your
work.”

This last word caught the inventor’s attention.

_ “My work?” he rejoined in the same language, which
he spoke fluently.

Then taking a pebble between his finger and thumb, like

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