He stopped short at the sound of the opening door and hurried towards them.

There was nothing about his appearance in the least terrifying.

He seemed, in fact, bubbling over with excited good-humour.
"Isabel, my dear," he exclaimed, "it is wonderful! I have succeeded! I have changed the principles of a lifetime, made the most brilliant optical experiment which any man of science has ever ventured to essay, with the result--well, you shall see.

I have wired to the Admiralty, wired for more work-people.

Captain Chalmers, is it not ?" he went on.
"You must tell your men to double and redouble their energies.