97 

 even ventured to press my case, but in vain. I thanked him, 

 asked him to telephone, and my friends came soon after. 



Tomorrow I should see Smuts, but it would be too late, my 

 treasures would by then be rotten. Even so, I had no hard feelings 

 for his refusal, only disappointment in his lack of vision. I re- 

 flected philosophically that I was probably once again paying the 

 price for my youthful appearance, for my figure and looks belied 

 my years. And yet Smuts must have known at least something of 

 my work and reputation. With his scientific leanings he would 

 certainly have been aware of the Coelacanth, more than aware 

 indeed, for he had been kept fully informed about the A.C.M.E. 

 project, when he had not wanted us to make any move to secure 

 a vessel from overseas. It was a curious situation, for the C.S.I.R. 

 fell directly under Smuts. 



I went to the House next day and lunched with our member for 

 Albany, Tom B. Bowker, who took me along and introduced me 

 to the Prime Minister's Secretary. Yes, the appointment for 

 2.15 p.m. was arranged. The Prime Minister was entertaining 

 some visiting American journalists to lunch and had not yet 

 returned to his office, but it was a good time, for the House was 

 quiet, and all should be well. Suddenly there was a stir, and the 

 Secretary went off. He returned in a few moments and stood in 

 the doorway, a curious expression on his face, looking at me before 

 he spoke. His exact words I do not remember, but they were to 

 the effect that he wished I had told him about my visit to Groote 

 Schuur before letting him go in to the Prime Minister, and why 

 on earth had I not tried to speak to him before going out there ? 



I gave him a brief outline of events and of the advice I had 

 received and acted on. He was non-committal and diplomatic and 

 asked me to wait for a short time, but he said that the situation 

 was very complicated, and meanwhile the Prime Minister was 

 receiving his American guests one by one. He vanished before I 

 could get an)rthing more, and I sat, amazed and bewildered, 

 watching a series of thrilled Americans going and coming from 

 heaven. Eventually I seized the Secretary and demanded to know 

 what the position was, and after some parrying finally learnt 

 that Smuts was annoyed that I had ventured to go to Groote 

 Schuur, and that in consequence he now refused to see me. His 

 Secretary plainly had some concern on my behalf, because he 



