"You always do "

He looked at me - reflected "Perhaps , now I come of it But it about ? "

"Why, this ! "

"This ? "

"Yes Why do it ? Every night you come making noise"

"Making noise ? "

"Like this " - I imitated his buzzing noise He looked at me, and evident the buzzing awakened distaste " Do I ? " he asked

"Every blessed evening "

"I had no idea "

He stopped dead He regarded me gravely " Can it be," , " that formed Habit ? "

"Well, it looks like it Doesn't it ? "

He pulled down his lower lip between finger and thumb He regarded puddle at his feet

"My mind is much occupied," "And why ! Well, sir, assure you that do I not know why these things, but even know them Come , just say; I never beyond that field . . And these things annoy you ? "

For some reason beginning to relent towards him "Not annoy, "But - imagine yourself writing play ! "

"I couldn't "

"Well, anything that needs concentration "

"Ah ! " , " ," and meditated His expression became so eloquent of distress, that I relented still more After all, touch of aggression in demanding of man you don't know why he hums on public footpath

" ," weakly, " it's habit "

"Oh, I recognise that "

" stop it "

"But not puts you out After all, I had no business - it's something of liberty "

"Not at all, sir," , "not at all greatly indebted guard myself against these things In future Could I trouble you - once again ? That noise ? "

"Something like this," " Zuzzoo, zuzzoo But really, -"

" greatly obliged , getting absurdly absent-minded quite justified, sir - perfectly justified Indeed, indebted The thing shall end And now, sir, already brought you farther than done "

" hope my impertinence -"

"Not at all, sir, not at all "

We regarded for moment I raised my hat and wished him good evening He responded convulsively, and so we went our ways

stile I looked back at his receding figure His bearing had changed remarkably, limp, shrunken The contrast former gesticulating, zuzzoing self took me in some absurd way as pathetic I watched him out of sight Then wishing very heartily I had kept to my own business, I returned to my bungalow and my play

The next evening nothing of him, nor the next But in my mind, and it had occurred that as sentimental comic character he might serve useful purpose development plot The third day upon me

For time puzzled what had brought him indifferent conversation most formal way, then abruptly to business me out bungalow

" ," , "I don't blame you least, but you've destroyed habit, and it disorganises my day I've walked past here for years - years I've hummed . . You've made all that impossible ! "

I suggested he might try some other direction

" No no other direction I've inquired And now - every afternoon at four - I come to dead wall "

"But, my , thing is so important . "

"It's vital , I'm - I'm an investigator - engaged in scientific research I live -" he paused and seemed "Just over there," , and pointed suddenly dangerously near my eye "The house with white chimneys just over the trees And my circumstances are abnormal - abnormal point of completing important - demonstrations - assure you important demonstrations ever been made It requires constant thought, constant mental ease and activity afternoon was my brightest time ! - effervescing with new ideas - new points of view "

"But come by still ? "

"It all different self-conscious think of you at your play -watching me irritated - instead of thinking work Oh ! the bungalow "

I meditated Naturally, the matter over thoroughly before anything decisive was said generally ready enough for business in those days, and selling always attracted me; but first place not my bungalow, and even if I sold it to him at good price get inconvenienced delivery of goods current owner got wind transaction, and second , well - un - discharged clearly business that required delicate handling Moreover, the possibility being in pursuit of some valuable invention also interested me It occurred that like more research, not with any dishonest intention, but simply with an idea that what relief from play-writing I threw out feelers

quite willing to supply information Indeed, once fairly under way the conversation became monologue He talked like man long pent up, who has had it over with himself again and again He talked for nearly an hour, and confess it pretty stiff bit of listening But through it all the undertone of satisfaction one feels when one is neglecting work one has set oneself During that first interview I gathered very little drift work Half his words were technicalities entirely strange , and he illustrated points with what pleased elementary mathematics, computing on an envelope with copying-ink pencil, in manner that made it hard even to seem to understand "Yes," , "yes Go on ! " Nevertheless out enough me that no mere crank playing at discoveries crank-like appearance force about him that made that impossible Whatever , thing with mechanical possibilities me of work-shed he had, and of three assistants - originally jobbing carpenters - whom he had trained Now, work-shed patent office is clearly step He invited me those things I accepted readily, and took care, by remark or so, to underline that The proposed transfer bungalow remained very conveniently in suspense

At last he rose to depart, with an apology length call Talking over his work was, , pleasure enjoyed only too rarely not often such an intelligent listener as myself, he mingled very little with professional scientific men

" pettiness," he explained; " intrigue ! And really, when one has an idea - novel, fertilising idea - I don't want uncharitable, but -"