VI
Two evenings later, Burton descended on the creek in the LuddenhamMarshes, and hastened with lightsome step to Micklewright's laboratory.It was the time of day when Micklewright usually ceased work and wenthome to his dinner.
"Still at it!" thought Burton, as he saw that the laboratory door wasopen.
He went on quickly and looked in. Micklewright was bending over hisbench in his customary attitude of complete absorption.
"Time for dinner, old man," said Burton, entering.
"Hullo! That you! Come and look at this."
"Upon my word, that's a cool greeting after I've been braving no end ofdangers for your sake."
"What's that you say? Look at this, Teddy; isn't it magnificent!"
Burton looked into the bowl held up for his inspection, and saw nothingbut a dirty-looking mixture that smelt rather badly.
"You see, it's like this," said Micklewright, and went on to describe inthe utmost technical detail the experiment upon which he had beenengaged. Burton listened with resignation; he knew by experience thatit saved time to let his friend have his talk out.
"Magnificent! I take your word for it," he said, when Micklewright hadfinished his description. "But look here, old man, doesn't it occur toyou to wonder where I've been?"
"Why should it?" asked Micklewright in unaffected surprise. He lookedpuzzled when Burton laughed; then remembrance dawned in his eyes. "Ofcourse; I recollect now. You went after those foreigners. I had almostforgotten them."
"Forgotten the beggars who had stolen your secret?" cried Burton.
"Hittite! Well, you see, it was gone; no good pulling a long face overit, though it was a blow after three years' work. I groused all daySunday, but recognised it as a case of spilt milk, and this morningstarted on a new tack. I'm on the scent of something else. Whether itwill be any good or not I can't say yet."
"Surely you got detectives down?"
"Well, no, I didn't. It's much the best to keep such things quiet. Thefellows had got away with the stuff, and before the police could havedone anything they'd be out of reach. So I just buckled to."
"Very philosophic of you!" said Burton drily. "I needn't have putmyself about, then. Well, hand over fifty francs, and I'll cry quits."
"Fifty--francs, did you say? Won't shillings do?"
"No; I was fined in francs. I won't take advantage of you."
"I seem to be rather at sea," said Micklewright. "Have the Frenchstarted air laws, and you broken 'em and been nabbed? But what were youdoing in France?"
"Come and let's have some dinner," said Burton, putting his arm throughhis friend's. "I'm sure you don't eat enough. Any one will tell youthat want of proper grub makes you dotty."
Micklewright locked up the laboratory, and went on with Burton to thehouse. Burton found his suit-case in the spare room and was glad to makea rapid toilet and change of clothes. In twenty minutes he was at oneend of the dining-table, facing Micklewright at the other, and old Mrs.Jones was carrying in the soup. Burton waited, before beginning hisstory, until Micklewright had disposed of an excellent steak, and"looked more human," as he said; then--
"Since I saw you last, I've been to Ostend," he began.
"Jolly good oysters there," said Micklewright.
"Ah! You're sane at last! I didn't go for oysters, though; I wentfor--Hittite."
"You don't mean to say----" cried Micklewright.
"Don't be alarmed," Burton interrupted. "There's none there now. Justlisten without putting your spoke in, will you!"
He related the incidents of his flights to Folkestone and Dover, hispursuit of the steamer, and the trick by which he had been taken onboard.
"And then I made an ass of myself," he continued. "But it'sowing--partly at any rate--to your lucid description, Pickles. Tall,stout, bald, moustache, brown bag; all the details to a T. I got intoconversation with the man, and when it turned out that he was amotor-cyclist, knew the Dover Road, and had something in his bag thatwas going to make a noise in the world, I made sure I'd got the rightman.
"You can imagine how sold I felt when, after persuading the Customsfellows to insist on opening his bag, all they fished out was a suit ofpyjamas, an old toothbrush, and a bottle full of a custardy-lookingstuff. He was very good-tempered about it--much more than I should havebeen if my wardrobe had been exposed. I was feeling pretty cheap whenanother fellow came along, whom your description fitted equally well,though he wasn't a scrap like the first man. He had evidently beenhorribly sea-sick; had gone below, I suppose, which was the reason why Ihadn't seen him before. The wind had carried away his hat, and his baldpate betrayed him. I got his bag opened; had to pretend that it wasmine, and full of cigarettes; and your stuff being loose in the bag itwent up with a fine fizz when I dropped a match into it. That's why youowe me fifty francs. They lugged me off to the police station, and nextday fined me fifty for smoking on forbidden ground, though, as I pointedout, _I_ hadn't done any smoking, and they ought really to have finedthe fellow who had the stuff in his bag. They were very curious as towhat that was, but of course I didn't give it away. And it's ratherrotten to find that after all you don't care a copper cent!"
"Not at all, my dear chap; I'm extremely grateful to you. I only hopeyou won't ruin me."
"Ruin you! What do you mean?"
"Well, you see, with Hittite safe, I shall be so sickening rich that Iam almost bound to get lazy."
"If that's your trouble, just hand it over to me; _I_ don't mind beingrich, though I'm not an inventor. But I say, Pickles, that reminds me:do you know any inventors of the names of Sims, Edwards and--what wasthe other?--Rowland?"
"Can't say I do. Why?"
"Why, the wrong man--the bottle man, you know--gassed about thegreatness of our English inventors, and mentioned these three specially,to put me off the scent, I thought. Of course his talk of inventorsmade me all the more sure that he had your stuff in his bag."
"Well, I can't recall any of them. Sims--you've never heard me talk ofany one named Sims, have you, Martha?" he asked of the housekeeper, whoentered at this moment with the coffee.
"No, sir; though if you don't mind me saying so, I've been a good mindto name him myself this long time, only I didn't like to be so bold."
"My dear good woman, what are you driving at?" asked Micklewright inastonishment.
"Why, sir, I dare say busy gentlemen like yourself don't notice it tillsome one tells 'em, their combs and brushes being kept tidy unbeknownst;but the truth is, I've been worriting myself over that--I reelly don'tlike to mention it, but there, being old enough to be your mother--Imean, sir, that little bald spot jest at the crown of the head,sir--jest at the end of the parting, like."
Micklewright laughed as he put his hand on the spot.
"Well, but--Sims?" he said.
"Well, sir, it didn't ought to be there in a gentleman of your age, andthinks I to myself: 'Now, if only the master would try one of themhair-restorers he might have his locks back as luxurious as ever theywas.' And I cut the particklers out of that _Strand_ magazine you gaveme, sir, and how to choose between 'em I _don't_ know, they're all thatgood. There's Edwards' Harlene for the Hair, and Rowland's antimacassaroil, and Tatcho, made by that gentleman as writes so beautiful in theSunday papers; he's the gentleman you mean, I expect--George R. Sims."
The men shouted with laughter, and Mrs. Jones withdrew, happy that hertimid suggestion had given no offence.
"To think of you in pursuit of a hairdresser gives me great joy," saidMicklewright presently. "He _must_ have been a hairdresser, Teddy."
"I suppose he was," assented Burton rather glumly. "By the way"--hefelt in his pockets. "He gave me a handbill; I didn't look at it at themoment; it's in the pocket of my overall, of course. I'll fetch it."
He returned, smoothing the crumpled slip of paper, and smiling broadly.
"Here you are," he said. "'Arsene Lebrun, artist in hair, havingreturn
ed from London with a marvellous new specific for promoting aluxuriant vegetation'--I am translating, Pickles--'on the most barrensoil, respectfully invites all gentlemen, especially those withinfantine heads'--that's very nice!--'to assist at a publicdemonstration on Sunday, August 20. Arsene Lebrun will then massage withhis fructifying preparation the six most vacant heads in Ostend, and laythe seeds of a magnificent harvest, which he will subsequently have thehonour to reap.' Hittite isn't in it with that, old man."
At this moment there was a double knock at the door, and Mrs. Jones soonre-entered with a letter.
"From the Admiralty," said Micklewright, tearing open the envelope."Listen to this, Teddy."
"'I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to say thatthey are prepared to pay you L20,000 for the formula of your newexplosive, and a royalty, the amount of which will be subsequentlyarranged, on every ton manufactured. They lay down as a peremptorycondition that the formula be kept absolutely secret, and that theexplosive be supplied exclusively to the British navy. I shall be gladif you will intimate your general agreement with these terms.'"
"Congratulations, old boy!" cried Burton heartily, grasping his friend'shand. "It's magnificent!"
Congratulations]
"I really think you are right, and as it's very clear that but for you Ishouldn't have been able to accept any terms whatever, it's only fairto----"
"Nonsense!" Burton interrupted. "All I want is fifty francs, forillicit smoking--a cheap smoke, as it turns out."
"Can't do it, my boy. Wait till I get my Lords Commissioners' cheque."
A week or two later, Burton's firm received an order from Dr.Micklewright for a water-plane of the best type, with all the latestimprovements in canoe floats, and the finest motor on the market. Whenthe machine was ready for delivery, Micklewright paid a visit to thefactory.
"It's a regular stunner, old man," said Burton, as he explained itspoints to his friend.
"Well, Teddy, do me the favour to accept it as a birthday present--alittle memento of your trip to Ostend."