“Father was talking of that very matter the other night,” said Miss Carmichael, “and he declared that rather than see any harm come to Womla he would keep his invention a secret—­at all events for a thousand years longer.”

We had glided rapidly across the Black Country, with its furnaces and forges blazing in the darkness, and now the dull red glow of the metropolis was visible on the horizon.  Half-an-hour later we descended in the garden of Carmichael’s cottage, and found everything as snug as when we had left it.

Leaving my fellow-travellers there, I took the train for London, and was driven to my club, where I intended to sleep.  It was a raw wet evening, and in spite of a certain joy at being home again, I could not help feeling that my heart was no longer here, but in another planet.  After the sublime deserts of space, and the delightful paradise of Womla, the busy streets, the blinding glare of the lamps, the splashing vehicles, the blatant newspaper men, the swarms of people crossing each other’s paths, and occasionally kicking each other’s heels, everyone intent on his own affairs of business or pleasure, were disenchanting, to say the least.  I seemed to have awakened from a beautiful dream, and fallen into a dismal nightmare.

In the smoking-room of the club the first person I saw was my friend the Viscount, who was sitting just where I had left him on the night we started for Venus, with his glass of toddy before him, and a cigar between his lips.

“Hallo!” he exclaimed on seeing me.  “Haven’t seen you for some time—­must be nearly two months.  Been abroad?  You look brown.”

“Yes.”

“Well, suppose we finish our game of chess.”

“With pleasure.”

“You remember the wager—­a thousand to a hundred sovereigns that I win.”

He was the better player, and although I had a slight advantage in the game as it stood, I was by no means certain of winning, especially as I was tired and sleepy; but ever since my sojourn in Venus, my intellect had been unusually clear and active.  I played as I had never played before, and in three moves had won the wager.

“That will pay my travelling expenses,” said I, pocketing his cheque.

* * * * *

I ought perhaps to mention that Professor Gazen carried out his intention of reading a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society on his alleged discovery of a diurnal nutation or “wobbling” of the planet Venus; but I regret to say that owing to preconceived opinions and personal prejudices, his ingenious theory met with a reception far below its merits.  By the terms of our agreement he was forbidden to divulge the secret of our expedition until my own account appeared, but some telescopic observations he had made since coming home had provided him with independent proofs.

“Do you think Professor Possil will be present?” said I to him, as we dined together before we went to the meeting.