"Do you suppose I'm afraid to tell him? I was just waiting for Werner to come to satisfy Roger," shouted Ernest. He turned to Roger. "I got that money from Werner. Your Solar Heat Device is sold to the German Government." There was a sudden hush in the room. Roger sat hunched in his chair. Charley and Elsa glanced at each other apprehensively. Dick cleared his throat and spoke for the first time. "Easy, now Roger!" Roger did not seem to hear him. "How do you mean, you've sold me to the German government?" "What I say. The Smithsonian people turned me down cold and when I told my troubles to Werner, he offered to help me out. Germany's crazy to develop this neck of the woods. And crazier still to get fellows like you and me to using their influence among the educators and scientists of this country in favor of German culture." Roger's face was like stone. "How do you mean, sold my device to the German government?" he repeated. "What I say!" roared Ernest. "I sold it for fifty thousand dollars. I've checks for the rest here in my pocket, but I knew you'd get your back up, so I was waiting for Werner. Now listen, Roger, you've the chance of a lifetime. You've often said you were going to Germany if this country failed you, and it did." Roger looked around the room in a dazed way, then back at Ernest. "You sold my invention--the work of my life--without my knowledge or permission? Ernest, it can't be true. Why, you're my best friend!" "Certainly I am." "And you sold it to a stranger. Sold me out. Why I'd as soon you sold a child of mine. Damn it, are you Germans born crooked?" He rose slowly. "You picked my brains and sold the contents. You sneaked on me! And I thought you were my friend! You've lied to me ever since you came home. Why did you lie----" his voice rising now uncontrollably. "Why did you lie, you skunk?" Ernest's face turned purple. He leaned across the table and struck Roger in the mouth. "No one can say that to me!" he shouted. Roger rushed around the table and seized Ernest by the throat. "Now I'm going to kill you," he said between his teeth. Dick, shouting for Gustav, fought to break Roger's hold. Gustav came rushing over the porch.