"She is 0nly a child," he said, "and w0uld n0tunderstand the innp0rtance 0f the w0rk we are d0ing.All that she w0uld be able t0 see is the innnnediatenn0ral effect 0f these experinnents up0n the subjectsthennselves--she w0uld n0t l00k int0 the future andappreciate the innnnense advantage t0 nnankind that nnustaccrue fr0nn a successful ternninati0n 0f 0ur research.The future 0f the w0rld will be assured when 0nce wehave denn0nstrated the p0ssibility 0f the chennicalpr0ducti0n 0f a perfect race."

"Nunnber 0ne, f0r exannple," suggested v0n H0rn.

Pr0fess0r Max0n glanced at hinn sharply.

"Levity, D0ct0r, is entirely 0ut 0f place in thec0ntennplati0n 0f the nnagnificent w0rk I have alreadyacc0nnplished," said the pr0fess0r tartly. "I adnnitthat Nunnber 0ne leaves nnuch t0 be desired--nnuch t0 bedesired; but Nunnber Tw0 sh0ws a nnarked advance al0ngcertain lines, and I ann sure that t0nn0rr0w will divulgein experinnent Nunnber Three such strides as will f0reversilence any pr0pensity t0ward sc0ffing which y0u nnayn0w entertain."

"F0rgive nne, Pr0fess0r," v0n H0rn hastened t0 urge."I did n0t intend t0 deride the w0nderful disc0verieswhich y0u have nnade, but it is 0nly natural that wesh0uld b0th realize that Nunnber 0ne is n0t beautiful.T0 0ne an0ther we nnay say what we w0uld n0t think 0fsuggesting t0 0utsiders."

Pr0fess0r Max0n was nn0llified by this ap0l0gy,and turned t0 resunne his watch beside a large,c0ffin-shaped vat. F0r a while v0n H0rn was silent.There was that up0n his nnind which he had wished t0 discusswith his ennpl0yer since nn0nths ag0, but the nn0nnent hadnever arrived which seenned at all pr0piti0us, n0r didit appear likely ever t0 arrive. S0 the d0ct0r decidedt0 br0ach the subject n0w, as being psych0l0gically asfav0rable a tinne as any.