“It’s devilish hard,” said Mr. Marvel.

This was quite ineffectual. He tried another tack.

“What do I make by it?” he began again in a tone of unendurable wrong.

“Oh! shut up! ” said the voice, with sudden amazing vigour. “I’ll see to you all right. You do what you’re told. You’ll do it all right. You’re a fool and all that, but you’ll do⁠—”

“I tell you, sir, I’m not the man for it. Respectfully⁠—but it is so⁠—”

“If you don’t shut up I shall twist your wrist again,” said the invisible man. “I want to think.”