The Face and the Mask | Page 9

around him.
"The substance that I am about to tell you of is my own invention, and
compares with dynamite as prussic acid does with new milk as a
beverage." The Professor dipped his fingers in his vest pocket and drew
out what looked like a box of pills. Taking one pill out he placed it
upon the anvil and as he tip-toed back he smiled on it with a smile of
infinite tenderness. "Before I begin on this subject I want to warn you
once more that if any man as much as stamps upon the floor, or moves
about except on tip-toe this substance will explode and will lay London
from here to Charing Cross in one mass of indistinguishable ruins. I
have spent ten years of my life in completing this invention. And these
pills, worth a million a box, will cure all ills to which the flesh is heir."
"John," he said, turning to his attendant, "bring me a basin of water!"
The basin of water was placed gingerly upon the table, and the
Professor emptied all the pills into it, picking up also the one that was
on the anvil and putting it with the others.
"Now," he said, with a deep sigh, "we can breathe easier. A man can
put one of these pills in a little vial of water, place the vial in his
vest-pocket, go to Trafalgar Square, take the pill from the vial, throw it
in the middle of the Square, and it will shatter everything within the
four-mile radius, he himself having the glorious privilege of suffering
instant martyrdom for the cause. People have told me that this is a
drawback to my invention, but I am inclined to differ with them. The

one who uses this must make up his mind to share the fate of those
around him. I claim that this is the crowning glory of my invention. It
puts to instant test our interest in the great cause. John, bring in very
carefully that machine with the electric-wire attachment from the next
room."
The machine was placed upon the table. "This," said the Professor,
holding up some invisible object between his thumb and forefinger, "is
the finest cambric needle. I will take upon the point of it an invisible
portion of the substance I speak of." Here he carefully picked out a pill
from the basin, and as carefully placed it upon the table, where he
detached an infinitesimal atom of it and held it up on the point of the
needle. "This particle," he said, "is so small that it cannot be seen
except with the aid of a microscope. I will now place needle and all on
the machine and touch it off with electric current;" and as his hand
hovered over the push-button there were cries of "Stop! stop!" but the
finger descended, and instantly there was a terrific explosion. The very
foundation seemed shaken, and a dense cloud of smoke rolled over the
heads of the audience. As the Professor became visible through the
thinning smoke, he looked around for his audience. Every man was
under the benches, and groans came from all parts of the hall. "I hope,"
said the Professor, in anxious tones, "that no one has been hurt. I am
afraid that I took up too much of the substance on the point of the
needle, but it will enable you to imagine the effect of a larger quantity.
Pray seat yourselves again. This is my last experiment."
As the audience again seated itself, another mutual sigh ascended to the
roof. The Professor drew the chairman's chair towards him and sat
down, wiping his grimy brow.
A man instantly arose and said, "I move a vote of thanks to Professor
Slivers for the interesting--"
The Professor raised his hand. "One moment," he said, "I have not
quite finished. I have a proposal to make to you. You see that cloud of
smoke hovering over our heads? In twenty minutes that smoke will
percolate down through the atmosphere. I have told you but half of the
benefits of this terrific explosive. When that smoke mixes with the

atmosphere of the room it becomes a deadly poison. We all can live
here for the next nineteen minutes in perfect safety, then at the first
breath we draw we expire instantly. It is a lovely death. There is no
pain, no contortion of the countenance, but we will be found here in the
morning stark and stiff in our seats. I propose, gentlemen, that we teach
London the great lesson it so much needs. No cause is without its
martyrs. Let us be the martyrs of the great religion of Anarchy. I have
left in my room papers telling just how and why we