In the ensuing pause Noakes realized that this was the first admission of failure he had ever made to his chief. The surprise it called forth was grateful to him.
'What's the trouble? But I think the trouble with you is that you have overreached yourself, Noakes.'
'Oh, no; the idea is a fine, tremendous one. Sheer stupidity is my trouble, I think.'
His humility seemed real, and perhaps the unusualness of it brought a curious expression to Maxineff's face, and into his eyes a contemplative light that Noakes did not care to meet.
'I met Miss Hallam as I entered,' Maxineff said carelessly.
The remark may have meant much, or it may have had merely an intentional indication of the intimacy accorded Noakes above the other assistants in the laboratories.
'Yes? She came to tell me that Mrs. Max will permit me to have tea with her this afternoon.'
'You are coming, I hope?'
'Indeed, yes. I confess I am tired out. I gave up the experiment early this morning. I understood the fulminate was running low, and spent my morning blundering over making some. I couldn't do that even, familiar as I am with the process.'
'Well, leave it all and come with me over the yard. I am inspecting this morning. Be my secretary for a while.'