Of course the things were dummies, as I might have guessed from

their presence. I really believe that had they not been so, I should

have rushed off incontinently and blown Sphinx, bronze doors, and

(

as it proved) my chances of finding the Time Machine, all together

into non-existence.

'It was after that, I think, that we came to a little open court

within the palace. It was turfed, and had three fruit-trees. So we

rested and refreshed ourselves. Towards sunset I began to consider

our position. Night was creeping upon us, and my inaccessible

hiding-place had still to be found. But that troubled me very little

now. I had in my possession a thing that was, perhaps, the best of

all defences against the Morlocks--I had matches! I had the camphor

in my pocket, too, if a blaze were needed. It seemed to me that

the best thing we could do would be to pass the night in the open,

protected by a fire. In the morning there was the getting of the

Time Machine. Towards that, as yet, I had only my iron mace. But

now, with my growing knowledge, I felt very differently towards

those bronze doors. Up to this, I had refrained from forcing them,

largely because of the mystery on the other side. They had never

impressed me as being very strong, and I hoped to find my bar of

iron not altogether inadequate for the work.

The Time Machine