Asher remained inarticulate.
“My friend, your family line will stretch out to the crack of doom, and I see them reduced to beggary.”
Asher only smiled at him in the starlight.
“My friend, you are as credulous as a schoolboy. You believed that nonsense about Wall Street, and you believe that you are going to live as long as the Christian era.”
At this point Asher spoke. “Of course I’m not going to live as long as the Christian era. That’s why I want the Christian names of those things up there.”
“They haven’t any.”
“Ain’t that an oversight?”
“Well, Asher, I suppose the Christian astronomers were afraid you’d copyright the names. Are you hunting for a trademark?”
“Not exactly. I want a name for the laboratory that you and I may be going to build right here.” The stars kept still while astonishment ran through Chase and exploded in laughter.
“My wife wins! She told me I was no match for you. Asher, the land over by the creek is a better location. It’s farther away from the newspapers. I will put in two millions, and you will put in one.”