elp; I have none to spare for people of that sort."

CHAPTER TWO.

THE REALISATION OF A SCIENTIST'S DREAM.

Punctual to the moment, Professor von Schalckenberg opened the door of
the smoke-room at the "Migrants'," and entered the apartment as the
deep-toned notes of Big Ben were heard sounding the hour of noon on the
day following that upon which occurred the conversation recorded in the
preceding chapter. Sir Reginald Elphinstone was already there; and
after a few words of greeting the two men left the club together, and,
entering the baronet's cab, which was in waiting, drove away to the
banker's, where the business of the money transfer was soon concluded.

The pair then separated; and for the next fortnight the professor was
busy all day, and during a great part of the night, with his drawings
and calculations. At the end of that time, having completed his work on
paper to his satisfaction, he took advantage of a fine day to make a
little excursion. Proceeding to London Bridge, he embarked in a river
steamer, about ten o'clock in the morning, and indulged himself in a run
down the river. He kept his eyes sharply about him as the boat sped
down the stream; and just before reaching Blackwall he saw what he
thought would suit him. It was a ship-building yard, "for sale, or to
let, with immediate possession", as an immense notice-board informed
him. Landing at the pier, he made his way back to the yard, and, having
with some difficulty found the man in charge of the keys, proceeded to
inspect the premises. They turned out to be as nearly what he wanted as
he could reasonably hope to find, being very spacious, with a full
supply of "plant," in perfect working order, and with enough spare room
to allow of the laying down of the special "plant" necessary for the
manufacture of his new metal. Having satisfied himself upon this point,
he next obtained the address of the parties who had the letting of the
yard and works, and proceeded back to town by rail. The parties of whom
he was now in search proved to be a firm of solicitors having offices in
Lincoln's Inn; and by them, when he had stated the object of his call,
he was received with--figuratively--open arms. The premises had been
lying idle and profitless for some time; and they were only too glad to
let them to him upon a two years' lease upon terms highly advantageous
to him and his client the baronet.

This important business settled, the next thing