"My friend Sarakoff and I introduced the germ that we discovered into the Elan reservoirs." "With what object?" "To endow humanity with the gift of immortality." "Ah!" he nodded gently. "The gift of immortality." He mused for a moment, and never once did his eyes leave my face. "That is interesting," he continued. "I recollect that at the International Congress at Moscow, a few years ago, there was much talk about longevity. Virchow, I fancy, and Nikola Tesla made some suggestive remarks. So you think you have discovered the secret?" "I am sure." "Of course you use the term immortality in a relative sense? You mean that the--er--germ that you discovered confers a long life on those it attacks?" "I mean what I say. It confers immortality." "Indeed!" His expression remained perfectly polite and interested, but his eyes turned for a brief moment in the direction of Lord Alberan. "So you are now immortal, Dr. Harden?" "Yes." "And will you, in such circumstances, go on practising medicine--indefinitely?" "No. There will be no medicine to practise." "Ah!" he nodded. "I see--the germ does away with disease. Quite so." He leaned back in the chair and pressed his finger tips together. "I suppose," he continued, "that you are aware that what you say is very difficult to believe?" "Why?" "Well, the artificial prolongation of life is, I believe, a possibility that we are all prepared to accept. By special methods we may live a few extra years, and everything goes to show that we are actually living longer than our ancestors. At least I believe so. But for a man of your position, Dr. Harden, to say that the epidemic is an epidemic of immortality is, in my opinion, an extravagant statement." "You are entitled to any opinion you like," I replied tranquilly. "It is possible to live with totally erroneous opinions. For all I know you may think the earth is square. It makes no difference to me." "What do you mean, sir?" exclaimed Lord Alberan. He had become exceedingly red during our conversation and the lower part of his face had begun to swell. "Be careful what you say," he continued violently. "You are in danger of being arrested, sir. Either that, or being locked in an asylum." The Home Secretary raised a restraining hand. "One moment, Lord Alberan," he said, "I have not quite finished. Dr. Harden, will you be so good as to ask your friend--his name is Sarakoff, I believe--to come in here?" I rose without haste and fetched the Russian. He behaved in an extremely quiet manner, nodded to Alberan and bowed to the Home Secretary. Sir Robert gave a brief outline of the conversation he had had with me, which Sarakoff listened to with an absolutely expressionless face. "I see that you also suffer from the epidemic," said Sir Robert. "Are you, then, immortal?" "I am an Immortal," said the Russian, in deep tones. "You will be immortal to-morrow."