"You will cease to be a man, and become one
of the great forces of Nature, altering, moulding, and improving."
"That is precisely the view which I take of myself. That is why I feel
my responsibility so acutely."
"But surely if you will do all this you may rest. It is a considerable
programme."
"Not at all. I am a patriotic Briton, and I should like to do something
to leave my name in the annals of my country. I should prefer, however,
to do it after my own death, as anything in the shape of publicity and
honour is very offensive to me. I have, therefore, put by eight hundred
million in a place which shall be duly mentioned in my will, which
I propose to devote to paying off the National Debt. I cannot see that
any harm could arise from its extinction."
Robert sat staring, struck dumb by the audacity of the strange man's
words.
"Then there is the heating of the soil. There is room for improvement
there. You have no doubt read of the immense yields which have resulted
in Jersey and elsewhere, from the running of hot-water pipes through the
soil. The crops are trebled and quadrupled. I would propose to try the
experiment upon a larger scale. We might possibly reserve the Isle of
Man to serve as a pumping and heating station.
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