“Andthenewsystemisoneofyourowninvention？”
“Notaltogether。SomeportionsofitarereferabletoProfessorTarr，ofwhomyouhave，necessarily，heard；and，again，therearemodificationsinmyplanwhichIamhappytoacknowledgeasbelongingofrighttothecelebratedFether，withwhom，ifImistakenot，youhavethehonorofanintimateacquaintance。”
“Iamquiteashamedtoconfess。”Ireplied，“thatIhaveneverevenheardthenamesofeithergentlemanbefore。”
“Goodheavens！”ejaculatedmyhost，drawingbackhischairabruptly，andupliftinghishands。“Isurelydonothearyouaright！Youdidnotintendtosay，eh？thatyouhadneverheardeitherofthelearnedDoctorTarr，orofthecelebratedProfessorFether？”
“Iamforcedtoacknowledgemyignorance。”Ireplied；“butthetruthshouldbeheldinviolateaboveallthings。Nevertheless，Ifeelhumbledtothedust，nottobeacquaintedwiththeworksofthese，nodoubt，extraordinarymen。Iwillseekouttheirwritingsforthwith，andperusethemwithdeliberatecare。MonsieurMaillard，youhavereallyImustconfessityouhavereallymademeashamedofmyself！”