"Not exactly; but a decent local builder was rather taken with it when I showed it to him, and he’s giving it a trial at the new Literary Institute he’s putting up. The building was stopped by the war, but he has already started work again, and he’s willing to test the idea before the plasterers finish. He has rigged up a sort of tray on the laths in the roof of the big room, and one of these days is going to put a brazier underneath. You see, if the stuff melts too easily, it will only mean a slop on the floor, and won’t do any damage." "I see. What are you going to call the stuff?" "Time enough for that when I’ve perfected the invention and sent in for my patent. Here’s my road-sweeper." He pointed to a somewhat rusty vehicle standing against one of the walls. "I’m only waiting for a supply of petrol to try it," he added. "The old engine uses up a frightful lot. But our allowance is due in to-morrow. I say, can you stay a day or two? Mrs. Pouncey can put you up." "Rather! I’ve got ten days’ leave." "That’s all right, then. Now we had better get back to the garage. Wilkins will be in a bait if it’s not open sharp at two." *II* As Templeton drew up in front of the garage, a bill-sticker was posting a bill on one of the side posts of the gate. The heading, hi large type, caught Eves’s eye, and when he got down to open the gate, he stayed to read the announcement while Templeton drove through. "I say, Bob, there’ll be a splendid rag to-morrow," he said on rejoining his friend. "There’s a meeting of parliamentary electors at the new Literary Institute—a final kick before the election on Saturday. Old Noakes is in the chair: he’s a pacifist, you remember, and the bill gives short notice that the meeting will be addressed by——" (He mentioned the name of a notorious agitator.) "We’ll go. Ask a few questions, perhaps." "Soldiers in uniform are forbidden to——" "Rats! That’s all gone by the board. The soldier’s a citizen now-a-days.... I say, is this Wilkins?" "My employer," replied Templeton. A thick-set man wearing a long coat and a motor cap was coming up the path. "Well, any business a-doing?" he asked of Templeton. "There have been two callers: one was a man who’d over-driven his machine and run short of oil. He was in a tearing hurry, and distinctly offensive. I did what I could for him, and warned him he’d lose his big ends if he wasn’t careful. Here’s the half-crown he paid me." "Half-a-crown! No more than that?" "Well, he paid what I asked." "Rot it all! You didn’t ask enough. A feller in a hurry, and likewise rude, ought to be made to pay. Look ’ee here, Mr. Templeton, you’re a young feller, and have got a thing or two to learn: you’d best get a notion of charging if you’re to be of any use to me." "What about that, then?" asked Templeton, handing him a couple of pound notes.