Hewasreallyaverytactfulyoungmanindeed，inanaturalsortofway。"Daresayallthisisnewtoyou，"hesaid;"notyoursortofmachine。Thesecabinsaren’thalfbad。"
　　Hegotupandwalkedroundthelittleapartment，showingitspoints。
　　"Hereisthebed，"hesaid，whippingdownacouchfromthewallandthrowingitbackagainwithaclick。"Herearetoiletthings，"andheopenedaneatlyarrangedcupboard。"Notmuchwashing。Nowaterwe’vegot;nowateratallexceptfordrinking。NobathsoranythinguntilwegettoAmericaandland。
　　Ruboverwithloofah。Onepintofhotforshaving。That’sall。
　　Inthelockerbelowyouarerugsandblankets;youwillneedthempresently。Theysayitgetscold。Idon’tknow。Neverbeenupbefore。Exceptalittleworkwithgliders——whichismostlygoingdown。Three—quartersofthechapsinthefleethaven’t。Here’safolding—chairandtablebehindthedoor。Compact，eh？"
　　Hetookthechairandbalanceditonhislittlefinger。"Prettylight，eh？Aluminiumandmagnesiumalloyandavacuuminside。
　　Allthesecushionsstuffedwithhydrogen。Foxy！Thewholeship’slikethat。Andnotamaninthefleet，exceptthePrinceandoneortwoothers，overelevenstone。Couldn’tsweatthePrince，youknow。We’llgoalloverthethingto—morrow。I’mfrightfullykeenonit。"
　　HebeamedatBert。"YouDOlookyoung，"heremarked。"Ialwaysthoughtyou’dbeanoldmanwithabeard——asortofphilosopher。
　　Idon’tknowwhyoneshouldexpectcleverpeoplealwaystobeold。Ido。"
　　Bertparriedthatcomplimentalittleawkwardly，andthenthelieutenantwasstruckwiththeriddlewhyHerrButteridgehadnotcomeinhisownflyingmachine。
　　"It’salongstory，"saidBert。"Lookhere！"hesaidabruptly，"Iwishyou’dlendmeapairofslippers，orsomething。I’mregularsickofthesesandals。They’rerottenthings。I’vebeentryingthemforafriend。"
　　"RightO！"
　　Theex—Rhodesscholarwhiskedoutoftheroomandreappearedwithaconsiderablechoiceoffootwear——pumps，clothbath—slippers，andapurplepairadornedwithgoldensun—flowers。
　　Buttheseherepentedofatthelastmoment。
　　"Idon’tevenwearthemmyself，"hesaid。"Onlybrought’eminthezealofthemoment。"Helaughedconfidentially。"Had’emworkedforme——inOxford。Byafriend。Take’emeverywhere。"
　　SoBertchosethepumps。
　　Thelieutenantbrokeintoacheerfulsnigger。"Herewearetryingonslippers，"hesaid，"andtheworldgoingbylikeapanoramabelow。Ratheralark，eh？Look！"
　　Bertpeepedwithhimoutofthewindow，lookingfromthebrightpettinessofthered—and—silvercabinintoadarkimmensity。Thelandbelow，exceptforalake，wasblackandfeatureless，andtheotherairshipswerehidden。"Seemoreoutside，"saidthelieutenant。"Let’sgo！There’sasortoflittlegallery。"
　　Heledthewayintothelongpassage，whichwaslitbyonesmallelectriclight，pastsomenoticesinGerman，toanopenbalconyandalightladderandgalleryofmetal，latticeoverhanging，emptyspace。Bertfollowedhisleaderdowntothegalleryslowlyandcautiously。Fromithewasabletowatchthewonderfulspectacleofthefirstair—fleetflyingthroughthenight。Theyflewinawedge—shapedformation，theVaterlandhighestandleading，thetailrecedingintothecornersofthesky。Theyflewinlong，regularundulations，greatdarkfish—likeshapes，showinghardlyanylightatall，theenginesmakingathrob—throb—throbbingsoundthatwasveryaudibleoutonthegallery。Theyweregoingataleveloffiveorsixthousandfeet，andrisingsteadily。Below，thecountrylaysilent，acleardarknessdottedandlinedoutwithclustersoffurnaces，andthelitstreetsofagroupofbigtowns。Theworldseemedtolieinabowl;theoverhangingbulkoftheairshipabovehidallbutthelowestlevelsofthesky。
　　Theywatchedthelandscapeforaspace。
　　"Jollyitmustbetoinventthings，"saidthelieutenantsuddenly。"Howdidyoucometothinkofyourmachinefirst？"
　　"Workeditout，"saidBert，afterapause。"Jestgroundawayatit。"
　　"Ourpeoplearefrightfullykeenonyou。TheythoughttheBritishhadgotyou。Weren’ttheBritishkeen？"
　　"Inaway，"saidBert。"Still——itsalongstory。"
　　"Ithinkit’sanimmensething——toinvent。Icouldn’tinventathingtosavemylife。"
　　Theybothfellsilent，watchingthedarkenedworldandfollowingtheirthoughtsuntilabuglesummonedthemtoabelateddinner。
　　Bertwassuddenlyalarmed。"Don’tyou’avetodressandthings？"
　　hesaid。"I’vealwaysbeentoohardatScienceandthingstogointoSocietyandallthat。"
　　"Nofear，"saidKurt。"Nobody’sgotmorethantheclothestheywear。We’retravellinglight。Youmightperhapstakeyourovercoatoff。They’veanelectricradiatoreachendoftheroom。"
　　AndsopresentlyBertfoundhimselfsittingtoeatinthepresenceofthe"GermanAlexander"——thatgreatandpuissantPrince，PrinceKarlAlbert，theWarLord，theherooftwohemispheres。Hewasahandsome，blondman，withdeep—seteyes，asnubnose，upturnedmoustache，andlongwhitehands，astrange—lookingman。Hesathigherthantheothers，underablackeaglewithwidespreadwingsandtheGermanImperialflags;
　　hewas，asitwere，enthroned，anditstruckBertgreatlythatasheatehedidnotlookatpeople，butovertheirheadslikeonewhoseesvisions。Twentyofficersofvariousranksstoodaboutthetable——andBert。TheyallseemedextremelycurioustoseethefamousButteridge，andtheirastonishmentathisappearancewasill—controlled。ThePrincegavehimadignifiedsalutation，towhich，byaninspiration，hebowed。StandingnextthePrincewasabrown—faced，wrinkledmanwithsilverspectaclesandfluffy，dingy—greyside—whiskers，whoregardedBertwithapeculiaranddisconcertingattention。ThecompanysatafterceremoniesBertcouldnotunderstand。Attheotherendofthetablewasthebird—facedofficerBerthaddispossessed，stilllookinghostileandwhisperingaboutBerttohisneighbour。Twosoldierswaited。Thedinnerwasaplainone——asoup，somefreshmutton，andcheese——andtherewasverylittletalk。
　　Acurioussolemnityindeedbroodedovereveryone。Partlythiswasreactionaftertheintensetoilandrestrainedexcitementofstarting;partlyitwastheoverwhelmingsenseofstrangenewexperiences，ofportentousadventure。ThePrincewaslostinthought。HerousedhimselftodrinktotheEmperorinchampagne，andthecompanycried"Hoch！"likemenrepeatingresponsesinchurch。
　　Nosmokingwaspermitted，butsomeoftheofficerswentdowntothelittleopengallerytochewtobacco。Nolightswhateverweresafeamidstthatbundleofinflammablethings。Bertsuddenlyfellyawningandshivering。Hewasoverwhelmedbyasenseofhisowninsignificanceamidstthesegreatrushingmonstersoftheair。Hefeltlifewas’toobigforhim——toomuchforhimaltogether。
　　HesaidsomethingtoKurtabouthishead，wentupthesteepladderfromtheswayinglittlegalleryintotheairshipagain，andso，asifitwerearefuge，tobed。
　　5
　　Bertsleptforatime，andthenhissleepwasbrokenbydreams。
　　Mostlyhewasfleeingfromformlessterrorsdownaninterminablepassageinanairship——apassagepavedatfirstwithravenoustrap—doors，andthenwithopenworkcanvasofthemostcarelessdescription。
　　"Gaw！"saidBert，turningoverafterhisseventhfallthroughinfinitespacethatnight。
　　Hesatupinthedarknessandnursedhisknees。Theprogressoftheairshipwasnotnearlysosmoothasaballoon;hecouldfeelaregularswayingup，up，upandthendown，down，down，andthethrobbingandtremulousquiveroftheengines。
　　Hismindbegantoteemwithmemories——morememoriesandmore。
　　Throughthem，likeastrugglingswimmerinbrokenwater，cametheperplexingquestion，whatamItodoto—morrow？To—morrow，Kurthadtoldhim，thePrince’ssecretary，theGrafVonWinterfeld，wouldcometohimanddiscusshisflying—machine，andthenhewouldseethePrince。HewouldhavetostickitoutnowthathewasButteridge，andsellhisinvention。Andthen，iftheyfoundhimout！HehadavisionofinfuriatedButteridges……Supposeafterallheownedup？Pretendeditwastheirmisunderstanding？
　　HebegantoschemedevicesforsellingthesecretandcircumventingButteridge。
　　Whatshouldheaskforthething？Somehowtwentythousandpoundsstruckhimasaboutthesumindicated。
　　Hefellintothatdespondencythatliesinwaitinthesmallhours。Hehadgottoobigajobon——toobigajob……
　　Memoriesswampedhisscheming。
　　"WherewasIthistimelastnight？"
　　Herecapitulatedhiseveningstediouslyandlengthily。LastnighthehadbeenupabovethecloudsinButteridge’sballoon。
　　Hethoughtofthemomentwhenhedroppedthroughthemandsawthecoldtwilightseaclosebelow。Hestillrememberedthatdisagreeableincidentwithanightmarevividness。AndthenightbeforeheandGrubbhadbeenlookingforcheaplodgingsatLittlestoneinKent。Howremotethatseemednow。Itmightbeyearsago。ForthefirsttimehethoughtofhisfellowDesertDervish，leftwiththetwored—paintedbicyclesonDymchurchsands。"’Ewon’tmakemuchofashowofit，notwithoutme。
　　Any’ow’edid’avethetreasury——suchasitwas——inhispocket！"……ThenightbeforethatwasBankHolidaynightandtheyhadsatdiscussingtheirminstrelenterprise，drawingupaprogrammeandrehearsingsteps。AndthenightbeforewasWhitSunday。"Lord！"
　　criedBert，"whatadoingthatmotor—bicyclegiveme！"Herecalledtheemptyflappingoftheevisceratedcushion，thefeelingofimpotenceastheflamesroseagain。Fromamongtheconfusedmemoriesofthattragicflareonelittlefigureemergedverybrightandpoignantlysweet，Edna，cryingbackreluctantlyfromthedepartingmotor—car，"Seeyouto—morrer，Bert？"
　　OthermemoriesofEdnaclusteredroundthatimpression。TheyledBert’smindstepbysteptoanagreeablestatethatfoundexpressionin"I’llmarry’ERifshedon’tlookout。"AndtheninaflashitfollowedinhismindthatifhesoldtheButteridgesecrethecould！Supposeafterallhedidgettwentythousandpounds;suchsumshavebeenpaid！Withthathecouldbuyhouseandgarden，buynewclothesbeyonddreaming，buyamotor，travel，haveeverydelightofthecivilisedlifeasheknewit，forhimselfandEdna。Ofcourse，riskswereinvolved。"I’ll’aveoldButteridgeonmytrack，Iexpect！"
　　Hemeditateduponthat。Hedeclinedagaintodespondency。Asyethewasonlyinthebeginningoftheadventure。Hehadstilltodeliverthegoodsanddrawthecash。Andbeforethat——Justnowhewasbynomeansonhiswayhome。HewasflyingofftoAmericatofightthere。"Notmuchfighting，"heconsidered;"allourownway。"Still，ifashelldidhappentohittheVaterlandontheunderside！……
　　"S’poseIoughttomakemywill。"
　　Helaybackforsometimecomposingwills——chieflyinfavourofEdna。Hehadsettlednowitwastobetwentythousandpounds。
　　Heleftanumberofminorlegacies。Thewillsbecamemoreandmoremeanderingandextravagant……
　　Hewokefromtheeighthrepetitionofhisnightmarefallthroughspace。"Thisflyinggetsonone’snerves，"hesaid。
　　Hecouldfeeltheairshipdivingdown，down，down，thenslowlyswingingtoup，up，up。Throb，throb，throb，throb，quiveredtheengine。
　　HegotuppresentlyandwrappedhimselfaboutwithMr。
　　Butteridge’sovercoatandalltheblankets，fortheairwasverykeen。Thenhepeepedoutofthewindowtoseeagreydawnbreakingoverclouds，thenturneduphislightandboltedhisdoor，satdowntothetable，andproducedhischest—protector。
　　Hesmoothedthecrumpledplanswithhishand，andcontemplatedthem。Thenhereferredtotheotherdrawingsintheportfolio。
　　Twentythousandpounds。Ifheworkeditright！Itwasworthtrying，anyhow。
　　PresentlyheopenedthedrawerinwhichKurthadputpaperandwriting—materials。
　　BertSmallwayswasbynomeansastupidperson，anduptoacertainlimithehadnotbeenbadlyeducated。Hisboardschoolhadtaughthimtodrawuptocertainlimits，taughthimtocalculateandunderstandaspecification。Ifatthatpointhiscountryhadtiredofitsefforts，andhandedhimoverunfinishedtoscrambleforalivinginanatmosphereofadvertiseinentsandindividualenterprise，thatwasreallynothisfault。HewasashisStatehadmadehim，andthereadermustnotimaginebecausehewasalittleCockneycad，thathewasabsolutelyincapableofgraspingtheideaoftheButteridgeflying—machine。Buthefounditstiffandperplexing。Hismotor—bicycleandGrubb’sexperimentsandthe"mechanicaldrawing"hehaddoneinstandardsevenallhelpedhimout;and，moreover，themakerofthesedrawings，whoeverhewas，hadbeenanxioustomakehisintentionsplain。Bertcopiedsketches，hemadenotes，hemadeaquitetolerableandintelligentcopyoftheessentialdrawingsandsketchesoftheothers。Thenhefellintoameditationuponthem。
　　Atlastherosewithasigh，foldeduptheoriginalsthathadformerlybeeninhischest—protectorandputthemintothebreast—pocketofhisjacket，andthenverycarefullydepositedthecopieshehadmadeintheplaceoftheoriginals。Hehadnoveryclearplaninhismindindoingthis，exceptthathehatedtheideaofaltogetherpartingwiththesecret。Foralongtimehemeditatedprofoundly——nodding。Thenheturnedouthislightandwenttobedagainandschemedhimselftosleep。
　　6
　　ThehochgeborenGrafvonWinterfeldwasalsoalightsleeperthatnight，butthenhewasoneofthesepeoplewhosleeplittleandplaychessproblemsintheirheadstowhileawaythetime——andthatnighthehadaparticularlydifficultproblemtosolve。
　　HecameinuponBertwhilehewasstillinbedintheglowofthesunlightreflectedfromtheNorthSeabelow，consumngtherollsandcoffeeasoldierhadbroughthim。Hehadaportfoliounderhisarm，andintheclear，earlymorninglighthisdingygreyhairandheavy，silver—rimmedspectaclesmadehimlookalmostbenevolent。HespokeEnglishfluently，butwithastrongGermanflavour。Hewasparticularlybadwithhis"b’s，"andhis"th’s"
　　softenedtowardsweak"z’ds。"HecalledBertexplosively，"Pooterage。"Hebeganwithsomeindistinctcivilities，bowed，tookafolding—tableandchairfrombehindthedoor，puttheformerbetweenhimselfandBert，satdownonthelatter，cougheddrily，andopenedhisportfolio。Thenheputhiselbowsonthetable，pinchedhislowerlipwithhistwofore—fingers，andregardedBertdisconcertinglywithmagnifiedeyes。"Youcametous，HerrPooterage，againstyourwill，"hesaidatlast。
　　"’Owd’youmakethatout？"askedBert，afterapauseofastonishment。
　　"Ichugebyzemapsinyourcar。TheywereallEnglish。Andyourprovisions。Theywereallpicnic。Alsoyourcordswereentangled。Youhaf’beentugging——butnogood。Youcouldnotmanagezeballoon，andanuzzerpowerthanyoursproughtyoutous。Isitnotso？"
　　Bertthought。
　　"Also——whereiszelaty？"
　　"’Ere！——whatlady？"
　　"Youstartedwithalaty。Thatisevident。Youshtartedforanafternoonexcursion——apicnic。Amanofyourtemperament——hewouldtakealaty。ShewasnotwizyouinyourballoonwhenyoucamedownatDornhof。No！Onlyherchacket！Itisyouraffair。
　　Still，Iamcurious。"
　　Bertreflected。"’Owd’youknowthat？"
　　"Ichugebyzenatureofyourfariousprovisions。Icannotaccount，Mr。Pooterage，forzelaty，whatyouhafdonewithher。
　　NorcanItellwhyyoushouldwearnature—sandals，norwhyyoushouldwearsuchcheapplueclothes。Theseareoutsidemyinstructions。Trifles，perhaps。Officiallytheyaretobeignored。Latiescomeandgo——Iamamanofzeworldt。Ihafknownwisemenwearsandalsandefenpracticevegetarianhabits。
　　Ihafknownmen——oratanyrate，Ihafknownchemists——whodidnotschmoke。Youhaf，nodoubt，putzelatydownsomewhere。
　　Well。Letusgetto——business。Ahigherpower"——hisvoicechangeditsemotionalquality，hismagnifiedeyesseemedtodilate——"hasproughtyouandyoursecretstraighttous。So！"——
　　hebowedhishead——"sopeit。ItiszeDestinyofChermanyandmyPrince。Icanundershtandtyoualwayscarryzatsecret。Youareafraidtofroppersandspies。Soitcomeswizyou——tous。
　　Mr。Pooterage，Chermanywillpuyit。"
　　"Willshe？"
　　"Shewill，"saidthesecretary，lookinghardatBert’sabandonedsandalsinthecornerofthelocker。Herousedhimself，consultedapaperofnotesforamoment，andBerteyedhisbrownandwrinkledfacewithexpectationandterror。"Chermany，Iaminstructedtosay，"saidthesecretary，withhiseyesonthetableandhisnotesspreadout，"hasalwaysbeenwillingtopuyyoursecret。Wehafindeedpeeneagertoacquireitferyeager;
　　anditwasonlyzefearthatyoumightbe，onpatrioticgroundts，actingincollusionwithyourPritishWarOfficezathasmadeusdiscreetinofferingforyourmarvellousinventionthroughintermediaries。Wehafnohesitationwhatefernow，Iaminstructed，inagreeingtoyourproposalofahunderttousandpoundts。"
　　"Crikey！"saidBert，overwhelmed。
　　"Ipegyourpardon？"
　　"Jestatwinge，"saidBert，raisinghishandtohisbandagedhead。
　　"Ah！AlsoIaminstructedtosaythatasforthatnoble，unrightlyaccusedlatyyouhafchampionedsobrafelyagainstPritishhypocrisyandcoldness，allzechivalryofChermanyisonhersite。"
　　"Lady？"saidBertfaintly，andthenrecalledthegreatButteridgelovestory。Hadtheoldchapalsoreadtheletters？Hemustthinkhimascorcherifhehad。"Oh！that’saw—right，"hesaid，"about’er。I’adn’tanydoubtsaboutthat。I——"
　　Hestopped。Thesecretarycertainlyhadamostappallingstare。
　　Itseemedagesbeforehelookeddownagain。"Well，zelatyasyouplease。Sheisyouraffair。Ihafperformtmyinstructions。
　　AndzetitleofParon，zatalsocanpedone。Itcanallpedone，HerrPooterage。"
　　Hedrummedonthetableforasecondorso，andresumed。"Ihaftotellyou，sir，zatyoucometousatacrisisin——Welt—Politik。Therecanbenoharmnowformetoputourplansbeforeyou。Peforeyouleafethisshipagaintheywillbemanifesttoallzeworldt。Warisperhapsalreadydeclared。Wego—toAmerica。OurfleetwilldescendoutofzeairuponzeUnitedStates——itisacountryquiteunpreparedforwareferywhere——eferywhere。ZeyhavealwaysreliedonzeAtlantic。
　　Andtheirnavy。Wehaveselectedacertainpoint——itisatpresentzesecretofourcommanders——whichweshallseize，andzenweshallestablishadepot——asortofinlandGibraltar。Itwillbe——whatwillitbe？——aneagle’snest。Zereourairshipswillgazzerandrepair，andthencetheywillflytoandfrooferzeUnitedStates，terrorisingcities，dominatingWashington，levyingwhatisnecessary，untilzetermswedictateareaccepted。Youfollowme？"
　　"Goon！"saidBert。
　　"WecouldhafdoneallziswizsuchLuftschiffeandDrachenfliegeraswepossess，butzeaccessionofyourmachinerendersourprojectcomplete。ItnotonlygifsusabetterDrachenflieger，butitremofesourlastuneasinessastoGreatPritain。Wizoutyou，sir，GreatPritain，zelandyoulofedsowellandzathasrequitedyousoill，zatlandofPhariseesandreptiles，candonozzing！——nozzing！Yousee，Iamperfectlyfrankwizyou。Well，IaminstructedthatChermanyrecognisesallthis。Wewantyoutoplaceyourselfatourdisposal。WewantyoutobecomeourChiefHeadFlightEngineer。Wewantyoutomanufacture，wewanttoequipaswarmofhornetsunderyourdirection。Wewantyoutodirectthisforce。AnditisatourdepotinAmericawewantyou。Soweofferyousimply，andwithouthaggling，zefulltermsyoudemandedweeksago——onehunderttousandpoundtsincash，asalaryofthreetousandpoundtsayear，apensionofonetousandpoundtsayear，andzetitleofParonasyoudesired。Thesearemyinstructions。"
　　HeresumedhisscrutinyofBert’sface。
　　"That’sallright，ofcourse，"saidBert，alittleshortofbreath，butotherwiseresoluteandcalm;anditseemedtohimthatnowwasthetimetobringhisnocturnalschemingtotheissue。
　　ThesecretarycontemplatedBert’scollarwithsustainedattention。Onlyforonemomentdidhisgazemovetothesandalsandback。
　　"Jes’lemmethinkabit，"saidBert，findingthestaredebilitating。"Look’ereI"hesaidatlast，withanairofgreatexplicitness，"IGOTthesecret。"
　　"Yes。"
　　"ButIdon’twantthenameofButteridgetoappear——see？Ibeenthinkingthatover。"
　　"Alittledelicacy？"
　　"Exactly。Youbuythesecret——leastways，Igiveityou——fromBearer——see？"
　　Hisvoicefailedhimalittle，andthestarecontinued。"IwanttodothethingEnonymously。See？"
　　Stillstaring。Bertdriftedonlikeaswimmercaughtbyacurrent。"Factis，I’mgoingtoedop’thenameofSmallways。I
　　don’twantnotitleofBaron;I’vealteredmymind。AndIwantthemoneyquiet—like。Iwantthehundredthousandpoundspaidintobenks—thirtythousandintotheLondonandCountyBenkBranchatBunHillinKentdirectlyI’andovertheplans;twentythousandintotheBenkofEngland;’arftherestintoagoodFrenchbank，theother’arftheGermanNationalBank，see？I
　　wantitputthere，rightaway。Idon’twantitputinthenameofButteridge。IwantitputinthenameofAlbertPeterSmallways;that’sthenameI’mgoingtoedop’。That’sconditionone。"
　　"Goon！"saidthesecretary。
　　"Thenexcondition，"saidBert，"isthatyoudon’tmakeanyinquiriesastotitle。ImeanwhatEnglishgentlemendowhentheysellorletyouland。Youdon’tarst’owIgotit。See？
　　’EreIam——Ideliveryouthegoods——that’sallright。Somepeople’avethecheektosaythisisn’tmyinvention，see？Itis，youknow——THAT’Sallright;butIdon’twantthatgoneinto。
　　Iwantafairandsquareagreementsayingthat’sallright。
　　See？"
　　His"See？"fadedintoaprofoundsilence。
　　Thesecretarysighedatlast，leantbackinhischairandproducedatooth—pick，andusedit，toassisthismeditationonBert’scase。"Whatwasthatname？"heaskedatlast，puttingawaythetooth—pick;"Imustwriteitdown。"
　　"AlbertPeterSmallways，"saidBert，inamildtone。
　　Thesecretarywroteitdown，afteralittledifficultyaboutthespellingbecauseofthedifferentnamesofthelettersofthealphabetinthetwolanguages。
　　"Andnow，Mr。Schmallvays，"hesaidatlast，leaningbackandresumingthestare，"tellme:howdidyouketholdofMisterPooterage’sballoon？"
　　7
　　WhenatlasttheGrafvonWinterfoldleftBertSmallways，helefthiminanextremelydeflatedcondition，withallhislittlestorytold。
　　Hehad，aspeoplesay，madeacleanbreastofit。Hehadbeenpursuedintodetails。Hehadhadtoexplainthebluesuit，thesandals，theDesertDervishes——everything。Foratimescientificzealconsumedthesecretary，andthequestionoftheplansremainedinsuspense。Heevenwentintospeculationaboutthepreviousoccupantsoftheballoon。"Isuppose，"hesaid，"thelatyWASthelaty。Botthatisnotouraffair。
　　"Itisferycuriousandamusing，yes:butIamafraidthePrincemaybeannoyt。Heactedwizhisusualdecision——alwaysheactswizwonterfuldecision。LikeNapoleon。DirectlyhewastoltofyourdescentintothecampatDornhof，hesaid，’Pringhim！——pringhim！Itismyschtar！’HisschtarofDestiny！Yousee？Hewillbedthwarted。HedirectedyoutocomeasHerrPooterage，andyouhafnotdoneso。Youhaftriet，ofcourse;butithaspeenapoortry。Hischugmentsofmenareferyjustandright，anditisbetterformentoactuptothem——gompletely。
　　Especiallynow。Particularlynow。"
　　Heresumedthatattitudeofhis，withhisunderlippinchedbetweenhisforefingers。Hespokealmostconfidentially。"Itwillbeawkward。Itriettosuggestsomedoubt，butIwasover—ruled。ThePrincedoesnotlisten。Heisimpatientinthehighair。Perhapshewillthinkhisschtarhasbeenmakingafoolofhim。Perhapshewillthink_I_hafbeenmakingafoolofhim。"
　　Hewrinkledhisforehead，anddrewinthecornersofhismouth。
　　"Igottheplans，"saidBert。
　　"Yes。Thereisthat！Yes。ButyouseethePrincewasinterestedinHerrPooteragebecauseofhisromanticseit。HerrPooteragewassomuchmore——ah！——inthepicture。Iamafraidyouarenotequaltocontrollingtheflyingmachinedepartmentofouraerialparkashewishedyoutodo。Hehadtpromisedhimselfthat……
　　"Andderwasalsotheprestige——theworldtprestigeofPooteragewithus……Well，wemustseewhatwecando。"Heheldouthishand。"Gifmetheplans。"
　　AterriblechillranthroughthebeingofMr。Smallways。Tothisdayheisnotclearinhismindwhetherheweptorno，butcertainlytherewasweepinginhisvoice。"’Ere，Isay！"heprotested。"Ain’tIto’ave——nothin’for’em？"
　　Thesecretaryregardedhimwithbenevolenteyes。"Youdonotdeserveanyzing！"hesaid。
　　"Imight’avetore’emup。"
　　"Zeyarenotyours！"
　　"Theyweren’tButteridge’s！"
　　"Noneedtopayanyzing。"
　　Bert’sbeingseemedtotightentowardsdesperatedeeds。"Gaw！"
　　hesaid，clutchinghiscoat，"AIN’Tthere？"
　　"Pegalm，"saidthesecretary。"Listen！Youshallhaffivehundertpoundts。Youshallhafitonmypromise。Iwilldothatforyou，andthatisallIcando。Takeitfromme。Gifmethenameofthatbank。Writeitdown。So！ItellyouthePrince——
　　isnochoke。Idonotthinkheapproffedofyourappearancelastnight。No！Ican’tanswerforhim。HewantedPooterage，andyouhafspoiltit。ThePrince——Idonotunderstandquite，heisinastrangestate。Itistheexcitementofthestartingandthisgreatsoaringintheair。Icannotaccountforwhathedoes。ButifallgoeswellIwillseetoit——youshallhaffivehundertpoundts。Willthatdo？Thengifmetheplans。"
　　"Oldbeggar！"saidBert，asthedoorclicked。"Gaw！——whatanolebeggar！——SHARP！"
　　Hesatdowninthefolding—chair，andwhistlednoiselesslyforatime。
　　"Nice’oldswindlefor’imifItore’emup！Icould’ave。"
　　Herubbedthebridgeofhisnosethoughtfully。"Igavethewholeblessedshowaway。IfI’dj’es’kepquietaboutbeingEnonymous……Gaw！……Toosoon，Bert，myboy——toosoonandtoorushy。I’dliketokickmysillyself。
　　"Icouldn’t’avekep’itup。
　　"Afterall，itain’tsoverybad，"hesaid。
　　"Afterall，five’undredpounds……Itisn’tMYsecret，anyhow。
　　It’sjes’apickupontheroad。Five’undred。
　　"WonderwhatthefareisfromAmericabackhome？"
　　8
　　AndlaterinthedayanextremelyshatteredanddisorganisedBertSmallwaysstoodinthepresenceofthePrinceKarlAlbert。