'Splendid! Mr. Hooke has denuded the countryside of small animals – if you hadn't brought him anything, he'd have cut you up.' Wilkins was coming down the ladder, the sureness of each footfall very much in doubt, massy buttocks approaching Daniel as a spectre of doom. Finally on terra firma, he waved a hundred bees off with an intrepid sweep of the arm. They wiped bees away from their palms, then exchanged a long, warm handshake. The bees were collectively losing interest and seeping away in the direction of a large glinting glass box. 'It is Wren's design, come and see!' Wilkins said, bumbling after them.