HEALTHFUL HOUSE 15

secret was worth millions; those millions he would have,
or no one should obtain his secret. Finally the Admiralty
gave him up.

It was under these circumstances, his mental state
growing daily worse, that he made a last attempt with
America—about eighteen months before the opening of
this story. :

The Americans, being even more practical than the
English, did not haggle about the Roch Fulgurator, on
which they placed an exceptional value, because of the
French chemist’s reputation.

They rightly looked upon him as a man of genius, and
took measures which were justified by his mental condition,
with the intention of making an equitable settlement with
him afterwards.

As Thomas Roch gave proofs beyond dispute of mental
disturbance, the administration, in the interest even of his
invention, considered it expedient to place him under
restraint.

As it has already been said, he was not placed in a
lunatic asylum. Healthful House offered every guarantee
for the treatment of his malady. But although he had
received the most assiduous care, the object had not
hitherto been attained. However irrational he was in all
else—this point must be insisted upon once more—the
inventor was completely himself when he was set going on
the topic of his discoveries. He became animated, he
spoke with the decision of a man sure of himself, and with
an authority which impressed his hearers. He eloquently