The scientific gentleman was a bachelor. He had no wife to call in and astonish, so he rang the bell for his servant.

“Pruffle,” said the scientific gentleman, “there is something very extraordinary in the air tonight? Did you see that?” said the scientific gentleman, pointing out of the window, as the light again became visible.

“Yes, I did, Sir.”

“What do you think of it, Pruffle?”

“Think of it, Sir?”

“Yes. You have been bred up in this country. What should you say was the cause for those lights, now?”

The scientific gentleman smilingly anticipated Pruffle’s reply that he could assign no cause for them at all. Pruffle meditated.

“I should say it was thieves, Sir,” said Pruffle at length.