Professor Rudge Appears to Be a Great Authority
It will not be difficult to believe, in the circumstances of such division of opinion in the scientific world, that when the case of Macrae was brought to Professor Rudge's notice he took it up with enthusiasm. The more he pondered over Macrae's story, the more interested he became. He was convinced by his examination of Macrae that there was no intentional deception, and the peculiar conditions existing seemed absolutely to exclude any explanations other than the one advanced. Of this he was so convinced that he resolved at once to pursue the investigations on the spot, in spite of its remoteness.
"I am going to visit Station X," he said, "and I am going to take you with me!"
Macrae's reply surprised him.
"No, sir! Anything else that I can do to oblige you, I will do, but I will never, never set foot on that island again."
"What nonsense! Why, man, I cannot imagine a being on earth not grasping with avidity at such a chance to make himself forever celebrated. You have already convinced me of the truth of your account, but I assure you others will not be so readily persuaded."
"I cannot help it, sir," said Macrae with quiet determination, "and I am very sorry indeed to disoblige you."
"But you can, and shall help it," said the Professor. "You must understand that because, pending investigation, I accept your story, that does not prove it. It merely induces me to take you with me to the spot and devote the time necessary for its confirmation."
"I regret, sir, very much that"
"Now, Macrae," interrupted Professor Rudge, "on this point I will take no refusal. You are at once to put any fanciful objections you may have on one side. I shall procure an order from the Admiralty, and that will settle it."
"I would rather resign my appointment than go there," said Macrae doggedly. "I beg of you, sir, to excuse me. Ask anything else of me, but I cannot go back to that station."
"I intend to reward you liberally for your time and services while we are away; on a much higher scale than the pay you receive from the Admiralty."
"Thank you, sir, but"
Rudge Endeavors to Induce the Operator to Go With Him to Station X
"When you think of Miss Treherne, of whom you profess to be fond, are you justified in refusing? She is waiting until you are in a position to marry her, and here are the very means you require, and you refuse them." Professor Rudge regarded Macrae as an obstacle in his path of investigation.
It was a shrewd question. Macrae was silent. He shuffled his feet and looked much disturbed.
The Professor, thinking his victory nearly won, added, "Surely also there is not a man in the world who will not envy you your fame. Think too of this young lady's pride and pleasure, and of the immeasurable use you will be to all your species, a use it would have been criminal to neglect by a persistence in your refusal. What is any recompense that I can give you compared to the rewards the world will shower on you?"
Macrae looked as if he were being torn between two impulses; his face was a picture of contending emotions. At length he found his voice, saying, in a scarcely audible tone:
"I am very sorry, but I cannot return to Station X!"
It was the Professor's turn to be silent. He was astounded. He looked at Macrae with a glance that said plainly, Have I, after all, misread your character? Yet in the face of the young fellow before him there was no trace of obstinacy. Its expression was rather one of unrelieved distress, such as one might feel on being asked the impossible by a friend whom he particularly wished to oblige.
Making an effort to conceal his annoyance, Professor Rudge at last said:
"Of course you have had a terrible experience there, and it is quite possible that you have not yet quite got over the shock of it. I will not detain you longer at present. Return to Plymouth, and you will hear from me again soon."
Continued Indecision
Macrae took his leave, and made his way to Paddington in a state as depressed as well could be. He did not deceive himself into the idea that Professor Rudge had given up the scheme. Macrae was convinced that he would apply for an Admiralty order. This, if granted, meant yielding or loss of his berth. Nevertheless, he felt it literally true, what he had said, not that he would not, but that for some reason, he could not agree to go. His only hope now was in the Admiralty refusing the required permission.
This was not, however, the case. The application was received with surprise; but the fact that so great a scientist, after full investigation, was sufficiently interested to be willing to make such a journey, showed that he, at all events, did not consider it a mere hallucination, and certainly not as intentional deceit. Permission was consequently given him to take Macrae to Station X, and authority would be given him to have the Signal House placed at his disposal for such time as he might require it, consistent with the official duties of the post.
Armed with this, Professor Rudge went to Plymouth, and had another long interview with Macrae. It was not in the Professor's nature to use the document he had in the way Macrae had feared. No threats were employed, but every other means was taken to alter his determination. Macrae had taken such a genuine liking to the Professor that the interviews were quite painful to him, as he still felt unable to accede to his request.
Any one acquainted with Professor Rudge knew that he was not a man lightly to give up a thing on which he had set his mind. If he had been one easily diverted from his purpose, his own early struggles would not have led to his present success. A comparatively small matter was often sufficient to show the firm tenacity of his nature; but this to him was no small matter. As long therefore as he desired Macrae to accompany him to Station X, so
