But Ruxton was less attentive to his words than to the man. There was a change in him. A subtle change. He was no longer the enthusiastic inventor, almost slavishly striving to enlist sympathy for his invention. There was something about him which suggested command--even an atmosphere of the autocrat. Perhaps it was that here he was in his own natural element--the element which he had himself created. Perhaps---- But he left it at that. It was useless to speculate further. He still experienced the sense of trust and liking which had been inspired at their first meeting by the noble forehead and the gentle, luminous eyes, so like, yet so unlike, those other eyes which so largely filled his thoughts. He willingly responded to the extended hand. And the man seemed to expect no reply, for he went on at once---- "I was in my laboratory when you came aboard. Now I am entirely at your service." "Good." Ruxton nodded. "I feel there must be a lot of talk between us--without delay." The inventor looked at his watch. Then he pointed at the lounge from which Ruxton had risen, and seated himself in one of the swivel chairs at the dining-table. "We have nearly two hours before supper is served. May I send for some refreshment for you?" Ruxton dropped into the seat behind him. "Thanks, no," he declined, "I dined early--purposely. All I am anxious for now is--explanation." The manner in which his eyelids cut flatly across the upper part of the pupils of his dark eyes gave his gaze a keenly penetrating quality. He wanted explanation, full and exhaustive explanation. Warnings, and mere intangible suggestions, no longer carried weight. He must know the whole thing which the future had to reveal to him. The white-haired man seemed lost in thought. Again Ruxton noted a change. The lean face and gentle eyes yielded to something very like an expression of dejection. It was almost as if the man shrank from the explanations demanded of him, while yet he knew they must be made. At length he raised his eyes and regarded his guest with an almost pathetic smile. "Explain? Ah, yes. I must explain everything now." He sighed. "Where--where shall I begin?" He crossed his long legs and strove to settle himself more comfortably in his chair, while Ruxton waited without a sign. "It is hard to explain--all," he said, after a brief pause. "But I know it must be. Mr. Farlow, can you imagine what it means when a man who has always regarded his honor and his country's honor before all things in the world suddenly finds himself called upon to confess that his country's honor has been outraged by his country, and his own honor has been outraged by himself? If you can, then perhaps you will understand my position when explanation is demanded of me." Ruxton averted the steady regard of his eyes. He did not desire to witness this man's pain.