第22章 The Man of Science(2)

Now that you know such things to be possible and practical, the hin. should be sufficient to enable a shrewd electrician to prepar. duplicates of them."The scientist glared at him with evident disappointment. and Rob continued:

"These are not all the wonders I can exhibit. Here is another electrica. device that is, perhaps, the most remarkable of any I possess."He took the Character Marking spectacles from his pocket and fitte. them to his eyes. Then he gave a whistle of surprise and turned hi. back upon his new friend. He had seen upon the Frenchman's forehea. the letters "E" and "C.""Guess I've struck the wrong sort of scientist, after all!" h. muttered, in a disgusted tone.

His companion was quick to prove the accuracy of the Character Marker.

Seeing the boy's back turned, he seized a long iron bar that was use. to operate the telescope, and struck at Rob so fiercely that had h. not worn the Garment of Protection his skull would have been crushed b. the blow. At it was, the bar rebounded with a force that sent th. murderous Frenchman sprawling upon the roof, and Rob turned around an. laughed at him.

"It won't work, Professor," he said. "I'm proof against assassins.

Perhaps you had an idea that when you had killed me you could rob m. of my valuable possessions; but they wouldn't be a particle of use t. a scoundrel like you, I assure you. Good morning."Before the surprised and baffled scientist could collect himsel. sufficiently to reply, the boy was soaring far above his head an. searching for a convenient place to alight, that he might investigat. the charms of this famed city of Paris.

It was indeed a beautiful place, with many stately buildings linin. the shady boulevards. So thronged were the streets that Rob well kne. he would soon be the center of a curious crowd should he alight upo. them. Already a few sky-gazers had noted the boy moving high in th. air, above their heads, and one or two groups stood pointing thei. fingers at him.

Pausing at length above the imposing structure of the Hotel Anglais. Rob noticed at one of the upper floors an open window, before whic. was a small iron balcony. Alighting upon this he proceeded to enter. without hesitation, the open window. He heard a shriek and a cry o. "AU VOLEUR!" and caught sight of a woman's figure as she dashed int. an adjoining room, slamming and locking the door behind her.

"I don't know as I blame her," observed Rob, with a smile at the pani. he had created. "I s'pose she takes me for a burglar, and thinks I'v. climbed up the lightning rod."He soon found the door leading into the hallway and walked dow. several flights of stairs until he reached the office of the hotel.

"How much do you charge a day?" he inquired, addressing a fat an. pompous-looking gentlemen behind the desk.

The man looked at him in a surprised way, for he had not heard the bo. enter the room. But he said something in French to a waiter who wa. passing, and the latter came to Rob and made a low bow.

"I speak ze Eengliss ver' fine," he said. "What desire have you?""What are your rates by the day?" asked the boy.

"Ten francs, M'sieur."

"How many dollars is that?"

"Dollar Americaine?"

"Yes; United States money."

"Ah, OUI! Eet is ze two dollar, M'sieur."

"All right; I can stay about a day before I go bankrupt.

Give me a room."

"CERTAINEMENT, M'sieur. Have you ze luggage?""No; but I'll pay in advance," said Rob, and began counting out hi. dimes and nickles and pennies, to the unbounded amazement of th. waiter, who looked as if he had never seen such coins before.

He carried the money to the fat gentleman, who examined the piece. curiously, and there was a long conference between them before it wa. decided to accept them in payment for a room for a day. But at thi. season the hotel was almost empty, and when Rob protested that he ha. no other money the fat gentleman put the coins into his cash box wit. a resigned sigh and the waiter showed the boy to a little room at th. very top of the building.

Rob washed and brushed the dust from his clothes, after which he sa. down and amused himself by viewing the pictures that constantly forme. upon the polished plate of the Record of Events.