In the meantime, you must be content to learn the effects which I produce without knowing every detail as to the means." Robert settled himself down in his chair and concentrated his attention upon his companion's words, while Haw bent forward his eager, earnest face, like a man who knows the value of the words which he is saying.
"You are already aware," he remarked, "that I have devoted a great deal of energy and of time to the study of chemistry." "So you told me." "I commenced my studies under a famous English chemist, I continued them under the best man in France, and I completed them in the most celebrated laboratory of Germany.

I was not rich, but my father had left me enough to keep me comfortably, and by living economically I had a sum at my command which enabled me to carry out my studies in a very complete way.

When I returned to England I built myself a laboratory in a quiet country place where I could work without distraction or interruption.

There I began a series of investigations which soon took me into regions of science to which none of the three famous men who taught me had ever penetrated.
"You say, Robert, that you have some slight knowledge of chemistry, and you will find it easier to follow what I say.

Chemistry is to a large extent an empirical science, and the chance experiment may lead to greater results than could, with our present data, be derived from the closest study or the keenest reasoning.