And there was nothing to do, and my thoughts ran abominably on in vain speculations.

There was my pentose and methyl-pentose determination in grapes and wines to which I had devoted my last summer vacation at the Asti Vineyards.

I had all but completed the series of experiments.

Was anybody else going on with it, I wondered; and if so, with what success?
You see, the world was dead to me.

No news of it filtered in.