, I will arrange an interview for you," Elmer replied, and
went on to give an account of his own experience, an account that lost
nothing in the telling.

Elmer created a mild sensation in the rooms of the Royal Society that
evening.

II

He found Challis at his house in Eaton Square the next morning, but it
became evident from the outset that the plan of confounding Grossmann
did not appeal to the magnate of Stoke-Underhill. Challis frowned and
prevaricated. "It's a thousand to one, the child won't condescend to
answer," was his chief evasion.

Elmer was not to be frustrated in the development of his scheme by any
such trivial excuse as that. He began to display a considerable
annoyance at last.

"Oh! nonsense; nonsense, Challis," he said. "You make altogether too
much fuss about this prodigy of yours."

"Not mine," Challis interrupted. "Take him over yourself, Elmer. Bring
him out. Exhibit him. I make you a gift of all my interest in him."

Elmer looked thoughtful for a moment, as if he were seriously
considering that proposition, and then he said, "I recognise that there
are--difficulties. The child seems--er--to have a queer, morose temper,
doesn't he?"

Challis shook his head. "It isn't that," he said.

Elmer scratched his cheek. "I understand," he began, and then broke off
and went on, "I'm putting this as a personal favour, Challis; but it is
more than that. You know my theories with regard to the future of the
race. I have a steady faith in our enormous potentialities for real
progress. But it must be organised, and Grossmann is just now standing
in our way. That stubborn materialism of his has infected many fine
intelligences; and I would make very great sacrifices in order to clear
this great and terrible obstacle out of the way."

"And you believe that this interview ..." interrupted Challis.

"I do, indeed," Elmer said. "It will destroy one of Grossmann's most
vital premisses. This prodigy of yours--he is unquestionably a
prodigy--demonstrates the fact of an immense progressive variation. Once
that is conceded, the main argument of Grossmann's 'Heredity' is
invalidated. We shall have knocked away the keystone of his mechanistic
theory of evolution...."

"But suppose that the boy refuses...."

"He did not refuse to see us."

"That was to save himself from further trouble."

"But isn't he susceptible to argument?"

"Not the kind of argument you have been using to me," Challis said
grave