CHAPTER XIV. 

MR. LAGUNE'S POINT OF VIEW. 

For three days the Laboratory at South Kensington saw nothing of Lagune, and then he came back more invincibly voluble than ever. Everyone had expected him to return apostate, but he brought back an invigorated faith, a propaganda unashamed. From some source he had derived strength and conviction afresh. Even the rhetorical Smithers availed nothing. There was a joined battle over the insufficient tea-cups, and the elderly young assistant demonstrator hovered on the verge of the discussion, rejoicing, it is supposed, over the entanglements of Smithers. For at the outset Smithers displayed an overweening confidence and civility, and at the end his ears were red and his finer manners lost to him. 

Lewisham, it was remarked by Miss Heydinger, made but a poor figure in this discussion. Once or twice he seemed about to address Lagune, and thought better of it with the words upon his lips. 

Lagune's treatment of the exposure was light and vigorous. "The man Chaffery," he said, "has made a clean breast of it. His point of view--" 

"Facts are facts," said Smithers. 

"A fact is a synthesis of impressions," said Lagune; "but that you will learn when you are older. The thing is that we were at cross purposes. I told Chaffery you were beginners. He treated you as beginners--arranged a demonstration." 

"It _was_ a demonstration," said Smithers. 

"Precisely. If it had not been for your interruptions ..." 

"Ah!" 

"He forged elementary effects ..." 

"You can't but admit that." 
was there a misunderstanding?
The thing is that we were at cross purposes. I told Chaffery you were beginners. He treated you as beginners--arranged a demonstration." 
