"A Lamp-clock was another Simple and Ingenious Design." How intolerably long-winded the writer was.

What had he to say about hood clocks?
"Very few of the Early Clocks had Dials.

The Device was generally a Mechanical Figure which struck the Hour on a Bell." Evidently the forerunner of the devilish alarum clock.

"Early clockmakers--Old English monks as Clockmakers." The pages flowed rapidly through Barrant's fingers.

"Introduction of Minute Hand Marks--Period of Clocks Showing Tides--Longfaced Clocks." Ah, here it was at last--"Hood Clocks." He began to read the chapter with interest, but as he was about to turn the first page the silence of the room was broken by a faint cackling laugh--an elfin sound which died away instantly.