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It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth

was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose

that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a

purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a

large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a

crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was

scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a

muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the

colonel looking down at me.

"'What are you doing there?' he asked.

"I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as

that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,'

said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to

your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it

was used.'

"The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of

my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in

his grey eyes.