drive, and some minutes afterwards I was able to pick her out
with my field-glasses traveling very rapidly in a south-westerly
direction. I tell you the anecdote for what it is worth. I drop
it into your brains and await its germination. Is it
illuminative? Has it conveyed anything to your minds? What do
_you_ think of it, Lord John?"

Lord John shook his head gravely.

"You'll be gettin' into serious trouble some of these days if
you don't put a brake on," said he.

"Perhaps you have some observation to make, Summerlee?"

"You should drop all work instantly, Challenger, and take three
months in a German watering-place," said he.

"Profound! Profound!" cried Challenger. "Now, my young friend,
is it possible that wisdom may come from you where your seniors
have so signally failed?"

And it did. I say it with all modesty, but it did. Of course,
it all seems obvious enough to you who know what occurred, but it
was not so very clear when everything was new. But it came on me
suddenly with the full force of absolute conviction.

"Poison!" I cried.

Then, even as I said the word, my mind flashed back over the
whole morning's experiences, past Lord John with his buffalo,