The first thing I noticed were the initials in the upper left-hand corner: H. K. _Herbert Krome_! Mister Patent Office himself--the evil genius who handled patent lawyers the way an animal trainer handles big cats. A single glance showed me how serious--and nasty--it was. “This application has been examined Art cited: Anderson et al-- 1,022,997 April 9, 1912 2/2.1 Browne-- 2,388,674 Nov. 13, 1945 2/2.1 Claims 1-28 are rejected as based on inoperable structure in the absence of a demonstration. Claims 1-28 are further rejected on the allowed claims in applicant’s co-pending S.N. 162,465, directed to the cabbagite crystal. Since it is known that cabbagite rearranges matter (30₂→20₃) it would be obvious to attach it to the well-known diving suit of Browne to obtain applicant’s result. No claim is allowed. Examiner. “See?” said Spardleton, his features dark, “Just as I thought. _He’s using our own application against us._” We were quiet for a moment. “There’s another matter,” said Spardleton. “Marchare says the Department of Defense has been dickering with him for rights under his diving suit application. I told him to stall them until he gets an allowance. If he can’t get a patent, the government can award manufacturing rights to anyone and not have to pay Marchare a nickel. “Actually, they prefer a license under a patent: It avoids any chance of suits in the U. S. Court of Claims by twenty or more halfbaked inventors who think Defense stole the idea from them. So time is of the essence.” I said, “If I could demonstrate a suit to Krome, I’m sure he’d allow the case immediately. But I don’t think the suit has been completed yet. Have you heard from Marchare?” “I phoned him about it a couple of weeks ago,” said Spardleton. “He told me it wasn’t _quite_ ready. When I asked him to be specific he mumbled something about bugs in the control system.” Spardleton studied me thoughtfully. “I can at least _show_ the suit to Krome,” I said uneasily. “I think it’ll take more than that,” Spardleton said. “Maybe I could fill it with rocks and let it down into the ground on a rope,” I suggested brightly. “Krome won’t buy that.” Spardleton frowned and seemed lost in thought for a moment. “Still, if I know Krome as well as I think I do it may work out all right. You’d better arrange for an interview this afternoon, and then run out and get the suit--_as is_. Marchare said you could have it anytime.” As I left to take care of things, a slow introspective smile was spreading over Spardleton’s face.