“Come, come, General!” exclaimed the Professor, “this is sheer flattery. You are amusing yourself at my expense, I fear. I hardly expected this of you.” “I speak only the truth!” said the General solemnly. “We will let that pass,” replied the Professor somewhat testily. “You have not yet answered my question. Do you think the invention I have mentioned would find any market in these days?” “I was coming to that point,” answered General Mainwarren. “I see no reason why your--your--invention when completed should not yield beneficial results.” “Completed!” replied the Professor, “as far as that is concerned, it is substantially completed.” “Perfected!” exclaimed General Mainwarren, with an air of astonishment. “Yes,” replied the Professor. “You could in--in--a comparatively short time,” resumed General Mainwarren, “turn out a practical air-ship! Do you mean this?” “Absolutely,” replied the Professor confidently. General Mainwarren reflected for some moments. “Professor Dean,” he said presently, “I’ll make you a proposition. Under these new conditions you need someone to guide your efforts and to properly market the product of your brain. I invite you to come with me to Pennsylvania, and pursue your researches and your work. It will be a mutual enterprise. As for the terms, there will be no difference between us as to that; they shall be of your own making.” “You mean this?” exclaimed the Professor in astonishment. “Positively,” answered General Mainwarren firmly; “I make you this as an offer. You are to pursue your researches and your work at your leisure and I am to supply such funds, or other promotive assistance, as may be needed. The benefits accruing we’ll share jointly, upon such terms as you yourself shall dictate. It’s a simple business proposition. Do you accept?” “The conditions are certainly most liberal!” exclaimed the Professor. “I----” “Why, then, do you hesitate?” “May I ask when this offer is to go into effect?” “Immediately.” “Ah,” exclaimed the Professor deprecatingly, “I don’t want to leave my friend Kearns so suddenly. I must ask for some time in which to reach a decision.” “By all means,” answered General Mainwarren, “but I ask it as a condition that you will not enter into any negotiation or discussion on this subject with outsiders until you have given me an answer. In a word, you are to treat this proposition as entirely confidential between us. Have I your word for this?”