Waldo polishes his model machine, taking comfort in its stability in a world in which nothing else seems secure. Doss is with him, and he warns Waldo of Bonaparte’s approach. The dog does not like Bonaparte. Waldo makes the mistake of telling Bonaparte all about his machine, and Bonaparte pretends to praise it, calling Waldo a genius and giving the boy hope that perhaps the machine could actually be produced. There is one “little improvement” that must be made, however, Bonaparte says. Then he crushes the machine on the ground, insults Waldo, and rides off. Doss plays with and kills a beetle, symbolizing what Bonaparte has just done to Waldo.