He led the agitated savant into the smoking-room, and stood over him while he placed various well-thumbed pieces of paper into an envelope. Then he sealed the envelope and placed it in his pocket, and with a sigh of relief the Professor rose. But Drummond had not finished yet.
“What about that letter and the police?” he said, holding out a detaining hand.
“My dear boy, I really haven’t got the time now,” cried the old man. “You’ve no idea of the importance of this interview this afternoon. Why”—he laid his hand impressively on Drummond’s arm—“if what Scheidstrun claims is correct, it may cause a complete revolution in our present ideas on the atomic theory. Think of that, my friend, think of that.”
Drummond suppressed a strong desire to laugh.
“I’m thinking, Professor,” he murmured gra
