"Star and Garter," but the frontage faced the Gardens. The dark-eyed
maid who opened the door informed me that the Professor was at home,
and took my card upstairs. Then, a few moments later, I was ushered up
to a cosy den, the study of a studious man, where I found the
distinguished scientist standing in expectation, with his back to the
fire.

He was a strange-looking man of sixty-five, his hair unusually white and
slightly bald on top. Tall beyond the average, he wore a moustache and
slight pointed beard, while his countenance seemed very broad in the
forehead tapering to a point. His face was, indeed, almost grotesque.

I commenced by apologising for my intrusion, but explained that I had
called on a purely confidential matter. When the door was closed, and we
were alone, I said:

"My mission, Professor, is a somewhat curious one"; and I went on to
explain our fears that German secret agents might obtain knowledge of
the new process to which he had referred at the London Institution on
the previous night.

For a moment he stroked his pointed white beard thoughtfully. I detected
that he was as eccentric as he was curious-looking. Then, with a light
laugh, he replied:

"Really Mr.--Mr. Jacox, I can't see your motive, or that of your
friends, in thus interfering in my private affairs!"

"But is not this splendid discovery of yours of national importance?" I
protested. "Will it not give us an enormous advantage over our enemies?
Therefore, is it not more than probable that you have already attracted
the attention of these spies of Germany?"

"My dear sir," he laughed, "I tell you quite frankly that I don't
believe in all these stories about German spies. What is there in
England for Germany to discover? Nothing; they know everything. No, Mr.
Jacox, I'm an Englishman, a patriot, and I still believe in England's
power. We have nothing whatever to fear from Germany."

"Your theory is hardly borne out by facts, Professor," I said,
proceeding to tell him of our discovery at Rosyth, and how we had
outwitted the spies regarding the new submarine, and also the airship at
Lochindorb.

But the strange-looking old scientist, distinguished as he was, only
laughed my fears to scorn.

"I'd like to see any German trying to learn my secret," he said
defiantly.

"Then I would urge you to take every precaution. These agents employed
by the German Secret Police on behalf of the General Staff are bold and
unscrupulous."