"Well, go on, Mr. Thurman," said the Secretary, encouragingly, but with a peculiar look at the corners of his mouth.
Thurman shuffled miserably.
"I'd prefer not to talk with—with him in the room," he said, nodding his head sideways at Jack.
"Why not? Mr. Ready has just sold his invention to the United States government."
"Sold it, sir——" began Jack, flushing, "why I——"
The Secretary held up a hand to enjoin silence. Then he turned to the thoroughly uncomfortable Thurman.
"We feel, Mr. Thurman," he said, "that you really tried to do us a great service."
Thurman recovered some of his self-assurance. Could he have had the skill to read the faces about him, though, he must have known that a bomb was about to burst.
"Thank you, sir," he said, "I did what I could, what I thought was my duty. And now, sir, about that reward."
"'Suitable reward,' was what was said, I think, Mr. Thurman," said the Secretary.