114 THE SPRING OF THE YEAR 



" ' Go 'way, sir. I '11 call the police. Professor 

 Agassiz is in bed. Go 'way, sir ! ' 



" ( Call him Agassiz instantly, or I '11 call him 

 myself.' 



" But I did n't ; for just then a door overhead was 

 flung open, a great white-robed figure appeared on 

 the dim landing above, and a quick loud voice called 

 excitedly, 



"' Let him in ! Let him in. I know him. He has 

 my turtle eggs ! ' 



" And the apparition, slipperless, and clad in any- 

 thing but an academic gown, came sailing down the 

 stairs. 



"The maid fled. The great man, his arms ex- 

 tended, laid hold of me with both hands, and drag- 

 ging me and my precious pail into his study, with a 

 swift, clean stroke laid open one of the eggs, as the 

 watch in my trembling hands ticked its way to seven 

 as if nothing unusual were happening to the his- 

 tory of the world." 



