The species, you see, is extinct." I roared with laughter; vowed I had never heard a better joke in my life; and repeated his last words over and over, like a degraded idiot as I was.

All at once a sense of deadly faintness came upon me.

I turned hot and cold by turns, and lifting my hand to my head, said, or tried to say:-- "Room's--'bominably--close!" "We had better go," he replied promptly.

"The air will do you good.
Leave me to settle for our dinners, and you shall make it right with me by-and-by." He did so, and we left the room.

Once out in the open air I found myself unable to stand.