“But I do not think he sold the secret of your process to the Englishmen.”
“Nor do I. The man’s looks convinced me I was mistaken. But they also convinced me he has a secret he is desperately trying to hide. We’re on a false scent, that’s all.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you.”
“And what can explain the fact that the Atlas company of Birmingham is using the Carden process?”
“Are you sure it’s the same process?”
“Humph! Do you know anything about the way steel is made?”
“No.”
“It is a very delicate process to extract the impurities from iron and to transform that metal into a steel that will stand severe tension and become of so fine a temper that it will cut diamonds. Our product also had marvelous resiliency, and can be forged without losing any of its qualities. All this is accomplished by manipulations that are the result of accurate scientific calculations. No one could stumble upon such a process as Carden evolved by years of intelligent effort, and by no other process than Carden’s could such steel ever be manufactured.”
“Well, what will you do now?”
“I don’t know. What I’d like to do is to go to Birmingham at once and see if I can solve the mystery.”