The Blind Spot | Page 8

ready to receive him. Isn't father there?" "Not
yet. Who was this guest? Did he say?"
"Oh yes! In a way. A most wonderful man. And he gave him a wonderful name, Rhamda

Avec. I remember because it is so funny. I asked father if he was Sanskrit; and he said he
was much older than that. Just imagine!"
"Did your father have his lecture with him?"
"Oh, yes. He glanced over it at breakfast. He told me he was going to startle the world as
it had never been since the day of Columbus."
"Indeed."
"Yes. And he was terribly impatient. He said he had to be at the college before eight to
receive the great man. He was to deliver his lecture at ten. And afterward he would have
lunch at noon and he would give me the whole story. I'm all impatience."
"Thank you."
Then he came back and made the announcement that there was a little delay; but that Dr.
Holcomb would be there shortly. But he was not. At twelve o'clock there were still some
people waiting. At one o'clock the last man had slipped out of the room--and wondered.
In all the country there was but one person who knew. That one was an obscure man who
had yielded to a detective's intuition and had fallen inadvertently upon one of the greatest
mysteries of modern times.

III
"NOW THERE ARE TWO"
The rest of the story is unfortunately all too easily told. We go back to Jerome and his
strange companion.
At Centre Street station they alighted and walked up to the university. Under the Le
Conte oaks they met the professor. He was trim and happy, his short, well-built figure
clothed in black, his snow-white whiskers trimmed to the usual square crop and his pink
skin glowing with splendid health. The fog had by this time lifted and the sun was just
beginning to overcome the chilliness of the air. There was no necessity for an
introduction.
The two men apparently recognised each other at once. So we have it from the detective.
There was sincerity in the delight of their hand-clasp. A strange pair, both of them with
the distinction and poise that come from refinement and intellectual training; though in
physique they were almost opposite, there was still a strange, almost mutual, bond
between them. Dr. Holcomb was beaming.
"At last!" he greeted. "At last! I was sure we could not fail. This, my dear Dr. Avec, is the
greatest day since Columbus."
The other took the hand.

"So this is the great Dr. Holcomb. Yes, indeed, it is a great day; though I know nothing
about your Columbus. So far it has been simply wonderful. I can scarcely credit my
senses. So near and yet so far. How can it be? A dream? Are you sure, Dr. Holcomb?"
"My dear Rhamda, I am sure that I am the happiest man that ever lived. It is the
culmination. I was certain we could not fail; though, of course, to me also it is an almost
impossible climax of fact. I should never have succeeded without your assistance."
The other smiled.
"That was of small account, my dear doctor. To yourself must go the credit; to me the
pleasure. Take your sun, for instance, I-- but I have not the language to tell you."
But the doctor had gone in to abstraction.
"A great day," he was beaming. "A great day! What will the world say? It is proved."
Then suddenly: "You have eaten?"
"Not yet. You must allow me a bit of time. I thought of it; but I had not quite the courage
to venture."
"Then we shall eat," said the other man. "Afterward we shall go up to the lecture-room.
Today I shall deliver my lecture on the Blind Spot. And when I am through you shall
deliver the words that will astonish the world."
But here it seems there was a hitch. The other shook his head kindly. It was evident that
while the doctor was the leader, the other was a co-worker who must be considered.
"I am afraid, professor, that you have promised a bit too much. I am not entirely free yet,
you know. Two hours is the most that I can give you; and not entirely that. There are
some details that may not be neglected. It is a far venture and now that we have
succeeded this far there is surely no reason why we cannot go on. However, it is
necessary that I return to the house on Chatterton Place. I have but slightly over an hour
left."
The doctor was plainly disappointed.
"But the lecture?"
"It means my life, professor, and the subsequent success of our experiment. A few details,
a few