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When the man saw it he bowed, and invited Lord Arthur into a very shabby front parlour on the ground floor, and in a few moments Herr Winckelkopf, as he was called in England, bustled into the room, with a very wine-stained napkin round his neck, and a fork in his left hand.

'Friday, at noon, repeated Herr Winckelkopf, and he made a note to that effect in a large ledger that was lying on a bureau near the fireplace. 'And now, said Lord Arthur, rising from his seat, 'pray let me know how much I am in your debt. 'It is such a small matter, Lord Arthur, that I do not care to make any charge.

'Explosive clocks, said Herr Winckelkopf, 'are not very good things for foreign exportation, as, even if they succeed in passing the Custom House, the train service is so irregular, that they usually go off before they have reached their proper destination.

It was from Herr Winckelkopf, asking him to call down the next evening, and look at an explosive umbrella, that went off as soon as it was opened. It was the very latest invention, and had just arrived from Geneva. He tore the letter up into fragments. He had made up his mind not to try any more experiments. Then he wandered down to the Thames Embankment, and sat for hours by the river.

Herr Winckelkopf, whom he went to see the next day was full of elaborate apologies, and offered to supply him with another clock free of charge, or with a case of nitro-glycerine bombs at cost price. But he had lost all faith in explosives, and Herr Winckelkopf himself acknowledged that everything is so adulterated nowadays, that even dynamite can hardly be got in a pure condition.

The dynamite comes to seven and sixpence, the clock will be three pounds ten, and the carriage about five shillings. I am only too pleased to oblige any friend of Count Rouvaloff's. 'But your trouble, Herr Winckelkopf? 'Oh, that is nothing! It is a pleasure to me. I do not work for money; I live entirely for my art.

Herr Winckelkopf shrugged his shoulders, and left the room, returning in a few minutes with a round cake of dynamite about the size of a penny, and a pretty little French clock, surmounted by an ormolu figure of Liberty trampling on the hydra of Despotism. Lord Arthur's face brightened up when he saw it. 'That is just what I want, he cried, 'and now tell me how it goes off.

'Ah! there is my secret, answered Herr Winckelkopf, contemplating his invention with a justifiable look of pride; 'let me know when you wish it to explode, and I will set the machine to the moment. 'Well, to-day is Tuesday, and if you could send it off at once 'That is impossible; I have a great deal of important work on hand for some friends of mine in Moscow.

Few young men do nowadays. 'I am afraid you overrate me, Herr Winckelkopf, said Lord Arthur, blushing. 'The fact is, I really know nothing about theology. 'It is a purely private matter then? 'Purely private.