him, as being drawn upon his own creation, "The Whole Compass Finance," a fairly prosperous concern, in which I had opened an account. So you see, good reader, that the family motto of "Business first" has, for once at any rate, been transgressed.
This particular inner circuit trip was to be a great and special occasion, White himself, in view of the still reputedly dangerous solar navigation, having consented to take the helm. How far my own personal influence on the occasion secured this important result, I will not, in all modesty, decide. Anyway, it secured us an unusually large company, while also greatly reducing the force of old Brown's objections, although he still emitted a growl over the sacrifice of business time, and the possibly inadequate results in publication profits or any other proceeds. By our present programme, we first touched at Venus, passing thence direct to Vulcan, as Mercury's position would be more in line about the time of our return. From Vulcan, Brown senior and I were to go on to the sun. Young Brown, having business with only the three planets, would, by arrangement, take a loop-line packet homewards from Vulcan to Mercury, where he was to await our return from our solar trip, and from whence the reunited party would make a straight course for the earth.
Venus, worthy of her name, is a beautiful planet, and already a favourite resort of our Eartheans. As
