Page:Clement Fezandié - Through the Earth.djvu/101

Rh on the sofa by his side, and began questioning him.

"I know I am dreadfully stupid," she said, "but I don't at all understand what has happened. Won't you please explain the matter to me?"

Dr. Giles felt the young girl's sympathy keenly, and it comforted him more than he was willing to confess.

"The long and the short of the matter, Flora," said he, "is that I am a fool! By overlooking one little point I have rendered my whole scheme impossible, and, after all my work, I shall never be able to send either freight or passengers through my tube!" And Dr. Giles clenched his fist viciously.

Flora was puzzled. "I don't see why it is you won't be able to send your car through," she said. "The tube's all ready, and the car's all ready. Everything has been prepared just as you wished, and everything seemed successful, so I don't see what will prevent you from sending a car through, as you had planned!"

"Ah, Flora, neither did I until your father spoke just now. I had n't stopped to reflect on what would happen when I dropped the car into the tunnel."