But these discoveries Martin could shut out by closing his door, and he had that to do now which deafened him to the mutters of intrigue.
V.
For once Gottlieb did not amble into his laboratory but curtly summoned him. In a corner of Gottlieb's office, a den opening from his laboratory, was Terry Wickett, rolling a cigarette and looking sardonic.
Gottlieb observed, "Martin, I haf taken the privilege of talking you over with Terry, and we concluded that you haf done well enough now so it is time you stop puttering and go to work."
"I thought I was working, sir!"
All the wide placidness of his halcyon days was gone; he saw himself driven back to Pickerbaughism.
Wickett intruded, "No, you haven't. You've just been showing that you're a bright boy who might work if he only knew something.
