Motioning the men to chairs, Murdock gazed about him with the air of an instructor about to address a class. He waited until silence had been obtained; then stared at his solemn-faced assistant in the corner.
"You may go, Stevens," he said, brusquely.
"Yes, sir," said the man, with a slight bow. "Do you wish me to wait until the truckmen come, sir?"
"That's right," declared Murdock, with a nod. "They were to return for that box they brought here by mistake. I shall attend to that, Stevens. You left it by the elevator, did you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. I shall answer their ring. Good night, Stevens." The solemn assistant left the laboratory and Murdock again smiled at his guests.
"Stevens is a good assistant, gentlemen," he said, quietly. "He knows nothing. That is much better than knowing too much — as some assistants do."
The others laughed at the chemist's witticism. Murdock looked about the group. He noted two men who impressed him more than any others. They were seated side by side.
One was Doctor Gerald Savette, a keen-visaged man who stood high in his profession.
The other was Lamont Cranston, a wealthy millionaire, who was a likely investor in promising inventions. Clark Murdock, despite his querulous disposition, had an eye to business. He was looking for financial aid in his present experiments, and it had occurred to him that Savette's approval would bring Cranston's interest. Hence it was upon these two that he centered his discourse.