“Marvin, I’d be equally glad to work under you. Sometimes in a moment of madness I dream of a quiet laboratory—no students except a few picked men—no limit to cost of apparatus—no newspaper reporters—” “Fairy tales don’t come true.” “That’s correct, but I shall be happy enough if you join me within a month.” Chapter 66. Dysprosium Marvin tripped to the station and took the two o’clock train. He was almost as excited as if he were an alchemist beholding the actual projection of gold. Release two charges of positive electricity from 82 and get 80, one negative from 80 and get 81, two positive from 81 and get 79, which is gold. When that process is effected, the energy released will turn all the wheels of earth with effortless ease, and the gold can be thrown away. By five o’clock the next afternoon he had calmed down a little, though when he burst in on his mother she hardly knew him, so strong and bronzed and radiant did he seem. She explained that his father was at Upper Encampment recovering from a burn and that Marvin’s presence was required there by the first boat. She handed him Grein’s letter, and they read it together, as in his childhood they had read of Aladdin and the lamp. Then she telephoned his father’s office to have the accumulated business mail sent at once to the boat. When she came back to him from the telephone, he drew the silvery head close to his heart and told her the whole truth about Gratia and about Jean. They would have talked on for an hour, but she hurried him into the car and off to the boat. There he found that he still had a little time, and decided to improve it by calling up Jimmy. In this however he failed. Jimmy’s landlady, in answer to the request that he might speak with Mr. Hogg, declared that he was hard to speak with; that he was upstairs writing a speech. Jimmy writing a speech? Impossible! James Endicott Hogg had never in his life been known to make a speech. Chapter 67. Holmium Next evening Marvin lounged along the shore of Mackinac, remembering the Bright River’s immortals, and another morning found him on another steamer. An hour later he was standing on the starboard side, searching the horizon for the limestone ruin where he had shivered all night. He turned with a sigh, and bumped into another passenger. “I beg your pardon.” “I beg yours, captain.” Marvin flushed. There was no mistaking the lean figure, the myopic eyes, the thin but masterful face. “Mr. Ferry, I’m ashamed that I once demanded your services as butler. I did not know that you had been doing all you could to win the war.” “Captain, you took your disappointment like a man.” “May I ask how Gratia is?” “Very well and happy. She is engaged to be married to Mr. James Hogg.” “I congratulate Jimmy, and, if I may, I congratulate you.”