172 FOR THE FLAG

As I went along the line of the Beehive in an easterly
direction, my thoughts turned to Thomas Roch. I was
very much surprised not to see him during that first day.
Can it be that he is suffering from an attack? But
that is hardly possible, for Count d’Artigas, according to
his own words, would have called Gaydon the keeper to
attend the inventor.

I had scarcely gone a hundred steps when I met
Serko. Sats : wy

With his usual good-humour, and engaging manners,
that scoffer smiled when he saw me and did not attempt
to escape. Had he known that I was a confrére—ad-
mitting that he is an engineer—he could not have given
me awarmer welcome. But I shall take good care to
conceal my name and accomplishments from him.

Serké stopped, with laughing eyes and mocking mouth,
and the good-day he wished me was accompanied by a
most friendly gesture.

I replied coldly to his politeness ; but this he did not
pretend to notice.

“May Saint Jonathan protect you, Mr. Gaydon!” he
said, in his clear, rich voice. “ You do not grieve, I hope,
at the happy circumstance which has enabled you to visit
this cave, marvellous above all others; indeed, one of the
most beautiful, and yet the least known of our spheroid.”

That word from the vocabulary of science in the course
of a conversation with a mere keeper surprised me, I must
say, and I contented myself with replying,—

“I should have no reason to grieve, M. Serko, if after