"Yes," he replied. He has been chief astronomer for about one hundred and thirty years."
I wondered I had not met him before.
"He seldom goes into company," was the response, "for he is fond of study and seclusion.
"Of course he is a bachelor," I interjected.
"Yes," was the answer; "and very likely to remain one, for he is now over two hundred years of age."
"And do you think his life of celibacy has been a happy one?" I inquired.
"I have no reason for thinking otherwise," was the reply. "He has been happy enough ever since I first knew him. Of course it might have been otherwise had he not been employed. He, however, is, and always has been, an enthusiast over his profession; and his dearest wish now is to live to witness the return of that wonderful planet Marini. And I can safely say it is also the wish of the whole nation. He has made preparations for the event on an exhaustive scale, and if he lives to manage matters, and carry them out as he anticipates, it is expected that many important discoveries will be made."
We now turned into our beds, and very soon afterwards I was fast asleep.
