After a minute of
effort he gave it up. When he looked down he was a different man;
his black eyes glowed with wonder.
"Can't make it," he said. "Get a step-ladder. Strange!"
With the ladder it was easy. He plucked it off the ceiling. We
pressed about the table. The chemist turned it about with his
fingers.
"I wonder," he was saying. "It's a gem. Apparently. You say it has
no gravity. It can't be. Whoop!" He let it slip out of his
fingers. Again it popped on its way to the ceiling. He caught it
with a deft movement of his hand. "The devil! Did you ever see!
And a solid! Who owns this?"
That brought it back to me. I explained what I could of the manner
of my possession.
"I see. Very interesting. Something I've never seen--and--frankly--
something strictly against what I've been taught. Nevertheless,
it's not impossible. We are witnesses at least. Would you care if
I take this over to the laboratory?"
It was a new complication. If it were not a jewel there was a
chance of its being damaged. I was as anxious as he; but I had
been warned as to its possession.
"I shan't harm it. I'll see to that. I have suspicions and I'd
like to verify them. A chemist doesn't blunder across such a thing
every day. I am a chemist." His eyes glistened.
"Your suspicions?" I asked.
"A new element."
This gem. A new element. Perhaps that would explain the Blind
Spot.
Pages:
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134