Here, as at Hong Kong and Calcutta, were mixed crowds of all races,
Americans and English, Chinamen and Dutchmen, mostly merchants ready to
buy or sell anything. The Frenchman felt himself as much alone among them
as if he had dropped down in the midst of Hottentots. He had,
the fact is, the Time Traveller was one of those men who are too clever too
Had Filby shown the model and explained the matter in the Time Traveller's words,
we should have shown him far less scepti- cism. For we should have perceived
his motives; a pork butcher could understand Filby. But the Time Traveller had more
than a touch of whim among his elements, and we distrusted him. Things that would have
made the frame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his
Had Filby shown the model and explained the matter in the Time Traveller's words,
we should have shown him far less scepti- cism. For we should have perceived his
motives; a pork butcher could understand Filby. But the Time Traveller had more
than a touch of whim among his elements, and we distrusted him. Things that would
have made the frame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his hands. It is a mistake
to do things too easily.
Had Filby shown the model and explained the matter in the Time Traveller's words,
we should have shown him far less scepti- cism. For we should have perceived his
motives; a pork butcher could understand Filby. But the Time Traveller had more
than a touch of whim among his elements, and we distrusted him. Things that would
have made the frame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his hands. It is a mistake
to do things too easily.
Had Filby shown the model and explained the matter in the Time Traveller's words,
we should have shown him far less scepti- cism. For we should have perceived
his motives; a pork butcher could understand Filby. But the Time Traveller had more
than a touch of whim among his elements, and we distrusted him. Things that would have
made the frame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his
The serious people who took him seriously never felt quite sure of his deportment;
they were somehow aware that trusting their reputations for judgment with him was
like furnishing a nursery with egg-shell china. So I don't think any of us said
very much about time travelling in the interval
Had Filby shown the model and explained the matter in the Time Traveller's words,
we should have shown him far less scepti- cism. For we should have perceived
his motives; a pork butcher could understand Filby. But the Time Traveller had more
than a touch of whim among his elements, and we distrusted him. Things that would have
made the frame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his
“The Carnatic anchored at the quay near the custom-house, in the midst of a crowd of ships bearing the flags
of all nations. Passepartout went timidly ashore on this”
