done for a long time. It's a new
thing."

The note of weak obstinacy which was in his voice when he first spoke
had died out of it. He was pleading with his brother as a child might
beg for something from a grown-up man.

"That's exactly what I do see," said Gorman.

"Then why won't you let me perfect it? It doesn't matter--sure, you know
yourself, Michael, that it doesn't matter what happens if only I get it
right."

I thought for a moment that the boy was going to cry. He pulled himself
together with a sort of choked sob and then suddenly flashed into a
rage.

"I will ask Ascher for the money," he said. "I will, I will. Damn you,
Michael! I'll give it all to Ascher, everything I have. Everything I
ever invent. I'll tell him all I've found out. I'll make it his."

Then with another swift change of mood the boy turned to me and began to
plead again.

"Tell him to give me the money," he said. "Or make him let me ask Ascher
for it. He'll do it if you speak to him. I don't want to quarrel with
Michael. I don't want to do anything he says is wrong. But I must have
that money. Don't you see I must? I can't get on without it?"

"Listen to me, Tim," I said; "if I give you the L100 you want----"

"I could manage with L100," said Tim. "But it would be much better if I
had L150."

"A hundred," I said, "and no more. If I give it to you, will you promise
to bring that apparatus of yours up to London and exhibit your results
to a few friends of mine there?"

"Yes, I will. Of course I will. May I order the new mirrors to-morrow
and say that you'll pay for them?"

"You may. But remember----"

"Oh, that will be all right," said Tim. "As soon as ever it is
perfected----"

"Perfect or imperfect," I said, "you've promised to show it off when I
ask you to."

Gorman and I drove home together. At first he would do nothing except
grumble about his brother's childish obstinacy.

"Can't understand," he said, "how any man with brains can be such a
fool."

Then when he had worked off the fine edge of his irritation he began to
thank me.

"It was good of you, very," he said, "to put down the money. I'd have
done it myself, if I could have laid my hand on the amount he wanted.
But just at this moment I can't. All the same I don't see what good
that L100 is going to do. The thing's perfect enough for all practical
purposes already. I saw nothing wrong with it."

"Nor did I."

"Then what the devil does he want to do with