"Indeed! I was not aware of it."
"Why," he said, seeing I did not understand, "you light the room with coal-gas, as the ancients did. You still use the mechanical clock instead of the vocable chronophotometer; your furniture is, I see, of wood instead of coherent alcyite, while—but I do not object to the effect—it is delightfully archaic in tone!"
"I really don't follow you," I replied, somewhat piqued, "but you might remember that, archaic or not, this room is my own, and your criticism upon it is as gratuitous as your presence in it!"
I admit that this was not precisely courteous, but his manner was very supercilious and provoked me.
"Why did you bring me here? I am sure I did n't request it," he angrily retorted.
"My atomic friend," I said impressively, "who or what you are, I neither know nor care. But kindly bear in mind this fact: I did not bring you here. I don't ask you to stay here; whenever you wish to go, I can bear your departure without a pang. Nevertheless, so long as you remain I shall expect you to behave in a gentlemanly manner!" Here I thumped upon the table, and he fell over. He recovered nimbly, and, drawing himself up to his full three inches, replied with the greatest dignity:
"My colossal acquaintance, there is one fact you must kindly bear in your mind: Who or what you are is of little or no importance to me. How I came here, I know no more than yourself. Suffice it to say, I did n't come of my own accord; and, from my experience so far,"—here he paused and glanced scornfully about him,—"I have no desire to prolong my stay. But while I do stay I shall insist upon all proper courtesy and all due respect!"
His dignity was so absurdly out of keeping with his size that I could not refrain from a burst of laughter, and I became better-natured at once.
