There was a slight pause.
When I publish a paper, I shall mention that the chamber was built by you, Pyotr Stepanovich," Persikov interspersed, feeling that the pause should be ended.
Oh, that doesn't matter... However, if you insist..." And the pause ended.
After that the ray devoured Ivanov as well.
While Persikov, emaciated and hungry, spent all day and half the night at his microscope, Ivanov got busy in the brightly-lit physics laboratory, working out a combination of lenses and mirrors.
He was assisted by the mechanic.
Following a request made to the Commissariat of Education, Persikov received three parcels from Germany containing mirrors, convexo-convex, concavo-concave and even some convexo-concave polished lenses.
The upshot of all this was that Ivanov not only built his chamber, but actually caught the red ray in it.
And quite brilliantly, it must be said.
The ray was a thick one, about four centimetres in diameter, sharp and strong.