And there at Manchester was Thomson’s most famous pupil. Sir Ernest Rutherford, the man under whom Boltwood and Bohr and Moseley had studied. What was Sir Ernest doing now? Was he continuing Moseley’s work, or was he trying to prove that every atom is built up out of lighter atoms? Many able chemists denied that it would ever be possible to change one element into another and so release the incredible heat. Though admitting that Rutherford was right in regarding every nucleus as made of positive electricity, they declared that no human skill could pierce that nucleus. But it would be like Rutherford to try. If he did so, it would be by bombarding light substances with radium, in the hope that some helium atom might hit a nucleus and split it. But these speculations all faded back into the wave as the steamer approached New York. On landing he called up the laboratory to make sure that Grein was taking the much-needed vacation. He was informed that Dr. Grein was in town and at his work as usual. So uptown went Marvin and burst in upon his friend. Grein was seated at a desk, figuring. He glanced up. “Well?” “I’m glad to see you looking better.” “But what do you say?” “About what?” “Didn’t you get my letter?” “No. I’ve been in England.” “Did he show you?” “Did who show me what?” Grein scowled, scribbled an equation, and pushed it across. Marvin looked at it and remarked, “I’d call that a helium nucleus pushing a hydrogen atom ahead of it about forty thousand times faster than the bullet that killed Moseley.” “Don’t you know what Rutherford has done since we last met?” “No.” “He has disintegrated the nitrogen atom. He has knocked hydrogen atoms out of the nitrogen nucleus.” Marvin said nothing—merely clapped his hand to his stomach as if a thunderbolt had hit him there. “I see it gets you,” smiled Grein. “Better get back into the game.” “Are you offering me a job?” “The president thinks I’m offering you the earth. But it’s only an assistant professorship.” “Grein, you’re an angel of mercy. But I can’t give you an answer till I know whether I’m to be married.” “Haven’t you got that matter fixed up yet?” “Not exactly.” “Well, in God’s name get it settled, and bring her down here and get to work. We have just given Langmuir the Nichols medal for reactions at low pressures, but his criticisms of Rutherford and Bohr drive me to drink. They fascinate me, and I can’t disprove them, but his atom is too simple.” Marvin sat immobile, still thinking of the marvel accomplished by Rutherford, and Grein went on. “The stuff you sent me from France may contain the solution, especially what you have to say about interpenetrating elliptical orbits. But think of the years of experimentation before us.” “I’m anxious enough to work under you, Grein.”