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 answer no more questions until I knew whether my request would be granted.

This necessitated a consultation with the chief astronomer who, upon learning of my peculiar request and of my unnatural formation, hastened to the museum to see the monstrosity.

I knew from what I had previously learned that this gentleman was the greatest living astronomer on Jupiter. He peered at me in the cage and was dumfounded. He exchanged a few sentences with the professor; and again turned to me:

"At what time do you want the telescope?" he asked.

"Immediately."

"You shall have it, just to satisfy our curiosity," he said as he hastened from the room.

I heard the professor caution him strictly to tell no one of my presence, so at to avoid a rush from the student ranks.

In less than an hour I stood at the side of the largest telescope in our Solar System, watching the deepening shadows of night as they fell upon Jupiter.