A collection of elvans formed the starting-point, and when they had entered upon the wide field of palaeontology it was natural for Mr.Warricombe to invite his guest's attention to the species of _homalonotus_ which he had had the happiness of identifying some ten years ago--a discovery now recognised and chronicled.

Though his sympathy was genuine enough, Godwin struggled against an uneasy sense of manifesting excessive appreciation.

Never oblivious of himself, he could not utter the simplest phrase of admiration without criticising its justice, its tone.

And at present it behoved him to bear in mind that he was conversing with no half-bred sciolist.

Mr Warricombe obviously had his share of human weakness, but he was at once a gentleman and a student of well-stored mind; insincerity must be very careful if it would not jar upon his refined ear.