Part 31 (1/2)
Phillip located the source of the question. ”Kupfernickel.” He nodded at the shocked looks he received.
”Yes, that's right. The miners in Annaberg are dumping nickel ore. The price I was offered was,” Phillip exchanged grins with Hans Saltzman, ”extremely attractive. I am approaching completion of my calculations, and hope to soon begin the effort to produce the needed nickel members. Now, are there any questions?”
Michael Siebenhorn, Kurt Stoltz, and Hans Saltzman walked out of the seminar room together. ”So, Hans, what does the good doctor know about making gems? Will he be trying to do it himself?”
Hans squinted at the sun, then adjusted his pale blue Gribbleflotz ”gimme” cap. ”I don't think so, Kurt.
He's intensely interested in making his nickel pyramid. He feels he's very close to proving his theory.”
”I've spoken to several Americans about his investigations, Hans. Most of them laughed. None of them believe such a thing is possible.”
”I've heard the same, but that is no reason not to support his researches. One never knows. Maybe the Americans are wrong. We won't know until the doctor runs his experiments.”
”In the meantime, Hans, what can you tell us about Kupfernickel?” Michael asked.
OutsideSt. Martin's in the Fields a few days later Phillip was worried about how he would be received by Dina's parents. It had come as a shock, but a pleasant shock, to discover that Dina had had no idea that he was a wealthy man. It was nice to know she had married him for the man he was and not what he could offer. However, her friend Herr Stone had indicated that Dina's parents had heard rumors that he was some kind of charlatan. Herr Stone had quickly a.s.sured him that they didn't believe these rumors. This news should have rea.s.sured Phillip. And maybe it would have, if Herr Stone hadn't expressed an interest in seeing his doctorate.
Phillip had a guilty secret that he had even kept from Dina. He wasn't ent.i.tled to use the t.i.tle of Doctor.
He'd never earned a doctorate. He'd never even completed a bachelor's degree. The impressive piece of parchment he had displayed in his office was a fake. Well, maybe not a fake. There were lawyers' letters confirming its validity. He knew he deserved to hold a doctorate degree, but theUniversityofJena had had the nerve to suggest that he was insufficiently scholarly.
While he had been a poor insignificant alchemist struggling to finance his research doing a.s.says, the university faculty had been prepared to overlook his use of the t.i.tle. However, with his a.s.sociation with the Kubiak females, members of the faculty had become jealous of his success. He had rashly taken up the offer made by the Frau Kubiak to do something about his little problem. That of course had happened before he met Dina.
The rectory ofSt. Martin 's in the Fields was in sight when he finally came to a halt. ”Dina, there is something I have to tell you.”
Dina turned her s.h.i.+ning eyes to him. ”Yes, Phillip?”
He froze for a moment. Those honest, trusting eyes. He had to be strong. She had to know the truth before he confronted her parents. ”I'm. . . .” He stumbled to a halt. How to explain he had lived a lie. A lie that could reflect badly on his dearest Dina and her family. He swallowed. ”I'm not a doctor. I've never earned a doctorate degree.” He looked down into her eyes, silently pleading that she'd forgive him.
Dina reached for his hands and squeezed them gently. ”I know, Phillip. Your friends inJena told me the whole story.”
Phillip was shocked. ”You knew?”
She burrowed into his chest. ”Yes.” Then she looked up and gave him the sweetest of little self-satisfied smiles. ”Your friends described how you have put one over the self-important professors at the university. A couple of them have asked if you could arrange for them to receive similar degrees.”
”But it's a lie, Dina. I haven't completed the requirements. It is an empty t.i.tle backed up by a worthless piece of parchment.”
”No, Phillip. It isn't an empty t.i.tle. You are a doctor of philosophy. The first doctor of philosophy. You have completed the course requirement with your research into the new sciences.”
Phillip purred. He gathered his wife into his arms. ”I love you, Dina.”
Dina spared the streets a quick glance to check who might be watching. There was only the barrow boy with the cart loaded with gifts for her family. So she stood on tip toes and gave Phillip a quick peck on the cheek. ”I love you, Phillip.”
She gazed into his eyes for a moment more before slowly slipping out of his embrace. She tucked her hand over his arm and led him towards the Rectory. ”Now don't worry about Papa and Step-mama, Phillip. Let me handle them. Gerry warned me that Step-mama and Papa are worried about the boys.”
She turned and gave Phillip a brilliant smile. ”The fact that their studies are progressing so much better since they moved in with us will right many a wrong in Step-mama's eyes.”
When pastor Kastenmayer opened the rectory door, Maria Blandina threw herself at him. ”Papa!”
”Dina!” Ludwig opened his arms for his daughter to rush into them. ”You're looking well.” Looking up, Ludwig smiled apologetically at Phillip. ”h.e.l.lo, Phillip. I apologize for my daughter. Anybody would think we hadn't seen each other for years.”
”Dina misses her family, sir.”
”What? With three of her brothers living in the same house, she can miss her family?”
Dina giggled. ”Even then, Papa. How is everyone?”
The approaching clatter of leather on floor boards had Ludwig gently releasing Dina. ”Brace yourself, I think you're about to find out.”
The hall door burst open and a ma.s.s of arms and legs charged towards Dina.
”Dina, Dina, Dina. We've missed you so much. Have you come back home?”
Dina knelt down and reached out to hug little Thomas. ”No, Thomas. Phillip and I have just come to visit. I live inJena now.”
Thomas pouted. ”It's not fair. Phillip, Fritz and Joseph get you all the time. Can I come and live with you? Please?”
”No, Thomas. You have to stay with Mama and Papa. I'll visit whenever I can, and maybe you can visit me inJena sometime.”
Maria Blandina greeted her other brothers before she stood to greet her step mother. She offered her hands. ”Step-Mama. How are you?”
”I am well, thank you.” Salome looked around. ”I think it would be best if we all went inside.”
Dina looked around guiltily. She'd been so happy to see her family that she'd forgotten about being out on the street. She waved to the locals who had stopped to watch the strange sight, and then gestured to the barrow boy to follow before taking her husband's hand and following her family into their home.
The soccer ball had been such a hit with the boys that they had pleaded to be allowed outside to try it out. Salome and Dina waited at the window until they could see the men folk and boys kicking the new soccer ball around. Then Dina started unwrapping the remaining parcels.
”Oh!' It was a cry of pleasure. Salome ran her hands over the roll of quilted border suitable for attaching to the bottoms of petticoats and drawers. Hand-quilting those borders was very time-consuming, but they kept a person's ankles warm and toasty in cold weather. She looked up at her step-daughter. ”A sewing machine?”
Dina grinned. ”You know me so well.”
Salome returned the grin. Yes, she knew all about Maria Blandina Kastenmayerin and sewing. ”But what would an alchemist want with a sewing machine?”
”I believe he bought it to make laboratory coats after the American fas.h.i.+on to protect his worker's clothes.” Maria Blandina shook her head, an amused smile on her face. ”He thinks like a man. It took his housekeeper to think of a better use.”
Salome looked down at the precise st.i.tching on the quilting. ”What I wouldn't do for a sewing machine.
What with the boys growing and your father . . .” She stopped for a moment, then looked closely at Dina. ”Child, are you well?” She touched a hand to Dina's head. ”You seem very pale. Have you been ill?”
Dina shook her head.
Salome dropped a hand to Dina's breast. ”What about here? Do you feel tender?”