“The laborer is worthy of his hire,” said Dykstra, “No genuine scientist ever starved or was in want. He must live sparingly, of course, but a Spartan regimen is all the more conducive to the work of the mind at highest efficiency.
“No, indeed, senator, the true scientist is not in need of royalties. A man who is worth his salt will automatically gain the reputation that will take him where he deserves to go — to the laboratories and to the endowments which are his rightfully, in return for the benefit he bestows so freely upon all mankind. Bestows without thought of the vulgar commercialism which we see here being attempted to be thrust upon us.”
In the afternoon, Jennings was called. His spare, sticklike frame settled awkwardly into the witness chair. An amused tolerance was upon his face.
“I would prefer to answer your questions,” he said. “There is no general statement I have to make beyond what has already been said.”
Cogswell said, “What can you tell us, Dr. Jennings, of the allegedly revolutionary principles behind these toys of Dr. Nagle?”
“I can tell you nothing, because I do not know what these principles are,” said Jennings.
“You do not know for certain that Dr. Nagle has actually made the discoveries claimed for him and by him?”
“I am certain. I am very certain that they exist. I am certain that this Volcano which you have there on the table is symbolical of perhaps the most revolutionary discoveries since those that led to the release of atomic energy. Proper utilization of the principles symbolized there would no doubt lead to transmutation of the elements with the simplicity of ordinary chemical reactions. It is difficult to estimate the value of the discovery.”
“And yet you tell us you do not know what the principle is,” said Cogswell. “It appears that the scientific mind runs in channels far removed from the reasoning of ordinary individuals.”
“No, that's a very ordinary channel of thinking — or should be, anyway,” said Jennings. “It simply means that I know the abilities of Martin Nagle. I know him. I trust him. If he says it is so, then I believe that his symbology is based upon actual fact.”