First, therefore, he found it necessary to procure enough money to purchase it.

This problem presented at first no outstanding difficulties to such a being as Edmond. He saw many methods. However, certain requirements had to be met. He wanted a continuous source of income that would require none of his time to produce; a royalty on a patent would provide that. But whatever device he patented must be proof against imitation or theft, and be readily marketable. It should moreover be foolproof to the extent of revealing no secrets which he considered dangerous to a society that rested on the rocks of the cave. He wished to introduce no destructive force.

“I am perhaps the greatest of all misanthropes,” he reflected; “nevertheless I have no desire to destroy the society that enables me to live in comparative comfort, that prepares my food, maintains my dwelling, and supplies me with warmth and light. Let the beasts outside once learn the secret of the atom and the next little war will tumble civilization into the abyss.”

He turned his twin minds to his activated lead. He produced a little rod of this material, perhaps the general size of a safety match. Removing a vacuum tube from his radio, he broke the glass bulb from the base and affixed his lead rod thereto, slipping it carefully through the tubular grid so that it replaced the delicate tungsten filament. With the more than human dexterity of his curious fingers, he replaced and evacuated the bulb, leaving the tips that carried the filament current disconnected.

“Here is a cold, unvarying and permanent source of electron flow,” he reflected. “Presumable I can interest a manufacturer in a vacuum tube which is completely quiet, practically eternal, and that consumes no A-current. Then there is the considerable advantage of simplified circuits.”

He did not trouble himself to try the device, but placed a diagram and description in the hands of a patent attorney, and sent his model to the office of Stoddard & Co., one of the larger independent makers of vacuum tubes, with a letter describing it. Thereafter he ceased to think of it, and turned his activities again to the problem of energy and matter. He prepared his apparatus, and waited for his fortunes to provide the funds he required.

CHAPTER II

COMMERCE

PERHAPS a fortnight after the forwarding of Edmond’s tube, he received a reply from the concern.

“We have received and tested a vacuum tube submitted by you …”

“The device fulfills your claims to some extent, and there is a possibility that we might be interested in its manufacture … Should you care to discuss the matter, we will be pleased to receive you at this office at …”

Edmond smiled his ironic smile, and dropped the letter in his pocket.

“One of the axioms of a buyer is to appear only casually interested,” he thought. “Let their dignities be satisfied; I’ll go to them.”

Some three hours after the time designated,

Edmond presented himself at the outer office of Stoddard & Co., and passed a card to the startled office girl. There ensued a delay of several minutes. Edmond guessed that the powers behind the door summoned an additional member. Then he was ushered in.

Four men rose as he entered, staring at him. He felt the instant dislike that was his common reception; it flooded the office with a tenseness, a chilly, unpleasant strain. He stared back unsmiling, and after a moment, the oldest of the group flushed and coughed apologetically.

“Mr. Hall?” he said. “I am Mr. Stoddard and this is Mr. Thwaites, our secretary. These two gentlemen,” indicating a square-jawed, blue-eyed individual of forty, and a somewhat younger one with spectacles, “are Bohn and Hoffman, our engineers.”

Edmond bowed slightly; the men nodded. Not one of the group had extended a hand. He seated himself.

The president interrupted another strained silence with a cough.

“We had expected you earlier,” he said.

“It was inconvenient,” said Edmond, and waited.

“Well, well, perhaps we had better get down to business. This vacuum tube of yours is—somewhat revolutionary. It seems to function satisfactorily, but would mean the discarding and altering of considerable machinery.”

Edmond nodded.

“You must realize that this entails great expense, and there is some doubt in my mind as to the value of the device.”

“Well?” said Edmond.

“What terms would you consider, if we should decide to acquire the rights to your tube?”

“I will require,” said Edmond, “a five percent royalty on the selling price of the tube, and will permit you to manufacture the device under an exclusive contract with me.