we had all imitated the action of the Medical Man, he said: 'Now I

want you clearly to understand that this lever, being pressed over,

sends the machine gliding into the future, and this other reverses

the motion. This saddle represents the seat of a time traveller.

Presently I am going to press the lever, and off the machine will

go. It will vanish, pass into future Time, and disappear. Have a

good look at the thing. Look at the table too, and satisfy

yourselves there is no trickery. I don't want to waste this model,

and then be told I'm a quack.'

There was a minute's pause perhaps. The Psychologist seemed about to

speak to me, but changed his mind. Then the Time Traveller put forth

his finger towards the lever. 'No,' he said suddenly. 'Lend me your

hand.' And turning to the Psychologist, he took that individual's

hand in his own and told him to put out his forefinger. So that it

was the Psychologist himself who sent forth the model Time Machine

on its interminable voyage. We all saw the lever turn. I am

absolutely certain there was no trickery. There was a breath of

wind, and the lamp flame jumped. One of the candles on the mantel

was blown out, and the little machine suddenly swung round, became

indistinct, was seen as a ghost for a second perhaps, as an eddy of

faintly glittering brass and ivory; and it was gone--vanished! Save

for the lamp the table was bare.

Everyone was silent for a minute. Then Filby said he was damned.

The Time Machine