He would not admit that he had left
Bradfield on account of a falling-off in his practice, or
for any reason except that he found the place too small.
His spring-screen invention had, he said, been favourably
reported upon by one of the first private shipbuilding
firms on the Clyde, and there was every probability of
their adopting it.
"As to the magnet," said he, " I'm very sorry
for my country, but there is no more command of the
seas for her. I'll have to let the thing go to the
Germans. It's not my fault. They must not blame me
when the smash comes. I put the thing before the
Admiralty, and I could have made a board school
understand it in half the time. Such letters, Munro!
Colney Hatch on blue paper. When the war comes, and I
show those letters, somebody will be hanged. Questions
about this--questions about that. At last they asked me
what I proposed to fasten my magnet to. I answered to
any solid impenetrable object, such as the head of an
Admiralty official. Well, that broke the whole thing up.
They wrote with their compliments, and they were
returning my apparatus. I wrote with my compliments, and
they might go to the devil. And so ends a great
historical incident, Munro--eh, what? "
We parted very good friends, but with reservations,
I fancy, on both sides. His last advice to me was to
clear out of Birchespool.
"You can do better--you can do better, laddie!" said
he.
Pages:
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290