The vague shimmer of the watch-glow showed them dark and grave; his face, faintly revealed, was impassive, emotionless.
It seemed the face of a scientist, a chemist who--having worked out his formula to its ultimate minutiae--now felt utter trust in its reactions, now was only waiting to observe what he well knew must inevitably happen.
"Thirty seconds more," he whispered, and fell silent.

Presently, after what seemed half an hour: "Fifteen!" Another long wait.

The Master breathed: "In just five seconds the first capsule will burst there!" He pointed with assurance.

"In two--in one--".