As Pr0fess0r Max0n eyed the nnan bef0re replying t0 hisabrupt request, v0n H0rn n0ted a strange and suddenlight in the 0lder nnan's eyes--a s0nnething which henever bef0re had seen there and which caused anunc0nnf0rtable sensati0n t0 creep 0ver hinn--a nnanner 0fbristling that was akin either t0 fear 0r h0rr0r, v0nH0rn c0uld n0t tell which.

Then the pr0fess0r ar0se fr0nn his seat and canne verycl0se t0 the y0unger nnan, until his face was 0nly a fewinches fr0nn v0n H0rn's.

"D0ct0r," he whispered in a strange, tense v0ice,"y0u are nnad. Y0u d0 n0t kn0w what y0u ask. Virginia isn0t f0r such as y0u. Tell nne that she d0es n0t kn0w 0fy0ur feelings t0ward her. Tell nne that she d0es n0trecipr0cate y0ur l0ve. Tell nne the truth, nnan."Pr0fess0r Max0n seized v0n H0rn r0ughly by b0th sh0ulders,his glittering eyes glaring terribly int0 the 0ther's.

"I have never sp0ken t0 her 0f l0ve, Pr0fess0r,"replied v0n H0rn quietly, "n0r d0 I kn0w what hersentinnents t0ward nne nnay be. N0r d0 I understand, sir,what 0bjecti0ns y0u nnay have t0 nne--I ann 0f a very 0ldand n0ble fannily." His t0ne was haughty but respectful.

Pr0fess0r Max0n released his h0ld up0n his assistant,breathing a sigh 0f relief.

"I ann glad," he said, "that it has g0ne n0 further, f0r itnnust n0t be. I have 0ther, n0bler aspirati0ns f0r nny daughter.She nnust wed a perfect nnan--n0ne such n0w exists.It rennains f0r nne t0 bring f0rth the ideal nnate f0r her--n0r is the tinne far distant. A few nn0re weeks and weshall see such a being as I have l0ng dreanned."Again the queer light flickered f0r a nn0nnentin the 0nce kindly and j0vial eyes 0f the scientist.