Ian Hay

“ Judge of my stupefaction, then, when this morning, two days after my lecture, I received by the first post an envelope containing Treasury notes to the value of twelve pounds ten shillings, accompanied by the following incomprehensible communication:
Dear Prof.,
When I said you was on, of course I meant the odds to a pound. Of course you saw the result—the length of the street! Centipede's S.P, was 100-8—and very nice too. I enclose £12 10s. with best thanks and comps. for your esteemed assistance.
Your brother.
Professor Joe Pepper.
The Well-Known Expert. ”

“ That's all that matters.'
'You are generous, sir,' I said, 'to allow me to share this distinction——'
'Professors should back professors,' said my visitor, simply.
'But, really, I must know definitely and exactly the terms in which I am to disclose——'
'If I write something down will you read it out?' asked the Professor, producing a fountain-pen.
'With pleasure,' I replied, and rose to my feet. The extent of my responsibility was now fixed. 'But I must beg you to make haste; I think I hear my cab at the door.'
Professor Pepper was already at work. He appeared to be a slow writer ”

“ Will thou put in a word for The Centipede in the lecture?'
Professor Pepper's hand grasped my knee; there were actually tears in his eyes.
'You mean you desire me to utter something in the way of a preliminary announcement-drop a hint, as it were that you are about to spring a surprise upon mankind?
'A hint would be no use. Professor. Thou doesn't know these people. Give it them red hot ”

“ Your students are becoming critical? I suggested.
'Critical?' he cried. 'Most of them are downright rude about it!' (Discipline is evidently lax in some of these newer universities.) 'And if I don't pull off something pretty big pretty soon, I shan't have any of them left. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1952, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 71 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”