when barney finished, mcallen stared down at the photographs again, shook his head, and looked over at barney.

"if you don't mind," he said, blinking behind his glasses, "i should like to think about this for a minute or two."

"of course, doctor," barney said politely. mcallen settled back in the chair, removed his glasses and half closed his eyes. barney let his gaze rove. the furnishings of the house were what he had expected—well-tended, old, declining here and there to the downright shabby. the only reasonably new piece in the study was a radio-phonograph. the walls of the study and of the section of a living room he could see through a small archway were lined with crammed bookshelves. at the far end of the living room was a curious collection of clocks in various types and sizes, mainly antiques, but also some odd metallic pieces with modernistic faces. vacancies in the rows indicated fredericks might have begun to dispose discreetly of the more valuable items on his employer's behalf.

mcallen cleared his throat finally, opened his eyes, and settled the spectacles back on his nose.

"mr. chard," he inquired, "have you had scientific training?"

"no."

"then," said mcallen, "the question remains of what your interest in the matter is. perhaps you'd like to explain just why you put yourself to such considerable expense to intrude on my personal affairs—"

barney hesitated perceptibly. "doctor," he said, "there is something tantalizing about an enigma. i'm fortunate in having the financial means to gratify my curiosity when it's excited to the extent it was here."

mcallen nodded. "i can understand curiosity. was that your only motive?"

barney gave him his most disarming grin. "frankly no. i've mentioned i'm a businessman—"

"ah!" mcallen said, frowning.

"don't misunderstand me. one of my first thoughts admittedly was that here were millions waiting to be picked up. but the investigation soon made a number of things clear to me."

"what were they?"

"essentially, that you had so sound a reason for keeping your invention a secret that to do it you were willing to ruin yourself financially, and to efface yourself as a human being and as a scientist."

"i don't feel," mcallen observed mildly, "that i really have effaced myself, either as a human being or as a scientist."

"no, but as far as the public was concerned you did both."

mcallen smiled briefly. "that strategem was very effective—until now. very well, mr. chard. you understand clearly that under no circumstances would i agree to the commercialization of ... well, of my matter transmitter?"

barney nodded. "of course."

"and you're still interested?"

"very much so."

mcallen was silent for a few seconds, biting reflectively at his lower lip. "very well," he said again. "you were speaking of my predilection for fishing. perhaps you'd care to accompany me on a brief fishing trip?"

"now?" barney asked.

"yes, now. i believe you understand what i mean ... i see you do. then, if you'll excuse me for a few minutes—"