"No, that was Prospero's discovery—but I know how he went at it."
"Go to the laboratory, Ted, and stick at it as long as you can, night and day. If you can work out that formula, you can have two weeks at Christmas. If you can't, we are done for. The bank is carrying us now on the strength of our Texas contract—if we can't make good on it, you and I have finished with Deep Harbor. Can I telephone for a chemist to help you?"
"Yes—get me a young, trained research man—and see if the Owen people will lend us one of their best laboratory men. Of course, you'll have to pay like the deuce—"
"That doesn't matter—you'll get your man. And, Ted?"
"Yes?"
"I'd rather you wouldn't tell Miss Claybourne about this—her father is a director in the bank—"
"Miss Claybourne does not repeat—" I began.
"Nevertheless—why worry her with your troubles, Ted, until necessary?"
"Then you know about—us?" I asked naïvely.
"I'm not a damned fool in everything, Ted."