In the same mood that afternoon he stood in the middle of his living-room and looked at his visitors: Piltdon, Williams, the Government man; Billings from the Van Terrel Foundation; Steiner of Westchester University; the members of the press. "Gentlemen," he said. "I'll make it brief." He waved the papers in his hand. "Here is everything I know about what I call the Feetch Effect, including plans and specifications for the New Type Super-Opener. All of you have special reasons for being keenly interested in this information. I am now going to give a copy to each of you, providing one condition is met by Mr. Piltdon." He stared at Piltdon. "In short, I want fifty-one per cent of the stock of Piltdon Opener."
Piltdon leaped from his chair. "Outrageous!" He roared. "Ridiculous!"
"Fifty-one percent," said Feetch firmly. "Don't bother with any counterproposals or the interview is at an end."
"Gentlemen!" squawked Piltdon, "I appeal to you—"
"Stop bluffing," said Feetch coldly. "There's no other way out for you. Otherwise you're ruined. Here, sign this agreement."
Piltdon threw the paper to the floor and screamed: "Gentlemen, will you be a party to this?"
"Well," murmured the Government man, "I never did think Feetch got a fair shake."
"This information is important to science," said the Van Terrel man.
After Piltdon had signed, the papers were distributed.
Published in the newspapers the following day, Feetch's statemen............