Машина времени

           ThePsychologistlookedatus. ‘Iwonderwhathe’sgot?’ 

           ‘Somesleight-of-handtrickorother,’saidtheMedicalMan,andFilbytriedtotellusaboutaconjurerhehadseenatBurslem;butbeforehehadfinishedhisprefacetheTimeTravellercameback,andFilby’sanecdotecollapsed. 

           ThethingtheTimeTravellerheldinhishandwasaglitteringmetallicframework,scarcelylargerthanasmallclock,andverydelicatelymade. Therewasivoryinit,andsometransparentcrystallinesubstance. AndnowImustbeexplicit,forthisthatfollows—unlesshisexplanationistobeaccepted—isanabsolutelyunaccountablething. Hetookoneofthesmalloctagonaltablesthatwerescatteredabouttheroom,andsetitinfrontofthefire,withtwolegsonthehearthrug. Onthistableheplacedthemechanism. Thenhedrewupachair,andsatdown. Theonlyotherobjectonthetablewasasmallshadedlamp,thebrightlightofwhichfelluponthemodel. Therewerealsoperhapsadozencandlesabout,twoinbrasscandlesticksuponthemantelandseveralinsconces,sothattheroomwasbrilliantlyilluminated. Isatinalowarm-chairnearestthefire,andIdrewthisforwardsoastobealmostbetweentheTimeTravellerandthefireplace. Filbysatbehindhim,lookingoverhisshoulder. TheMedicalManandtheProvincialMayorwatchedhiminprofilefromtheright,thePsychologistfromtheleft. TheVeryYoungManstoodbehindthePsychologist. Wewereallonthealert. Itappearsincredibletomethatanykindoftrick,howeversubtlyconceivedandhoweveradroitlydone,couldhavebeenplayeduponusundertheseconditions. 

           TheTimeTravellerlookedatus,andthenatthemechanism. ‘Well? ’saidthePsychologist. 

           ‘Thislittleaffair,’saidtheTimeTraveller,restinghiselbowsuponthetableandpressinghishandstogetherabovetheapparatus,‘isonlyamodel.