It is
entirely a question of simple formulas. Here they are."
He held out four closely written pages bound together with manuscript
fasteners.
"No man has ever before attained this knowledge or this power," went on
Darrow, after a moment; "and probably never again in the history of the
race will exactly this combination of luck and special talent occur. These
four pages are unique."
He laid them on the edge of the table, produced a cigarette, lighted it,
picked up the four pages of formulas, and held the burning match to their
edges. The flame caught, flared up the flimsy paper. Darrow dropped the
burning corners as it scorched his fingers. It fell to the floor,
flickered, and was gone.
Jack leaped forward with an exclamation of dismay. The old man bound to
the chair did not wink, but stared straight in front of him, his eyes
fixed like those of an owl or a wildcat.
"For God's sake, Darrow!" cried Jack Warford. "Do you know what you have
done?"
"Perfectly," replied Darrow calmly. "This is probably the greatest
achievement of the scientific intellect; but it must go. It would give to
men an unchecked power that belongs only to the gods."
CHAPTER XXIII
HOW IT ALL WAS
For his share in the foregoing Percy Darrow was extensively blamed. It was
universally conceded that his action in permitting Monsieur X to continue
his activities up to the danger point was inexcusable.
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