"
The old man took George and my father to the cell which he had occupied
twenty years earlier--but I cannot stay to describe his feelings on
finding himself again within it. The moment his grandfather's back was
turned, George said to my father, "And now shake hands also with your
son."
As he spoke he took my father's hand and pressed it warmly between both
his own.
"Then you know you are my son," said my father as steadily as the strong
emotion that mastered him would permit.
"Certainly."
"But you did not know this when I was walking with you on Friday?"
"Of course not. I thought you were Professor Panky; if I had not taken
you for one of the two persons named in your permit, I should have
questioned you closely, and probably ended by throwing you into the Blue
Pool." He shuddered as he said this.
"But you knew who I was when you called me Panky in the temple?"
"Quite so. My mother told me everything on Friday evening."
"And that is why you tried to find me at Fairmead?"
"Yes, but where in the world were you?"
"I was inside the Musical Bank of the town, resting and reading."
George laughed, and said, "On purpose to hide?"
"Oh no; pure chance. But on Friday evening? How could your mother have
found out by that time that I was in Erewhon? Am I on my head or my
heels?"
"On your heels, my father, which shall take you back to your own country
as soon as we can get you out of this.
Pages:
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222