THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON 



steadily than the fame of its alleged detractor, and its 

 transportation through the tea-room is the only man- 

 ner of announcement that the lecture is about to open 

 in the hall beyond. Indeed, so inconspicuous is the 

 proceeding, and so quietly do the members that choose 

 to attend pass into the lecture-hall, leaving perhaps 

 half the company engaged as before, that the "stran- 

 ger" as the non-member is here officially designated 

 might very readily fail to understand that the seance 

 proper had begun. In any event, he cannot enter until 

 permission has been formally voted by the society. 



When he is allowed to enter he finds the meeting- 

 room little different from the one he has left, except 

 that it is provided with a sort of throne on a raised 

 platform at one end and with cushioned benches for 

 seats. On the throne, if one may so term it, sits Lord 

 Lister, scarcely more than his head showing above 

 what seems to be a great velvet cushion which sur- 

 mounts his desk, at the base of which, in full view of 

 the society, rests the mace, fixing the eye of the " stran- 

 ger," as it is alleged to have fixed that of Cromwell 

 aforetime, with a peculiar fascination. On a lower 

 plane than the president, at his right and left, sit Sir 

 Michael Foster and Professor Arthur William Rucker, 

 the two permanent secretaries. At Sir Michael's right, 

 and one stage nearer the audience, stands the lecturer, 

 on the raised platform and behind the desk which ex- 

 tends clear across the front of the room. As it chances, 

 the lecturer this afternoon is Professor Ehrlich, of Ber- 

 lin and Frankfort-on-t he-Main, who has been invited 

 to deliver the Croonian lecture. He is speaking in 

 German, and hence most of the fellows are assisting 



VOL. V. 2 I 7 



