Then it was Doctor Max's lecture.

It was unequivocally the success of the conference. He was a natural speaker, with a rich, pleasing voice, a relaxed manner, and a natural delivery. He handled the subject with innate delicacy and sympathy, edging round the emotions and inhibitions with just the right amount of humor. Post-prandial hour it might be, but no one fell asleep this time. Applause was not enough; spontaneously, everyone in the audience got to their feet.

Tea time was a lengthy business because people wanted to go on asking questions, but a pale autumn sun was still shining by the time Doctor Max accelerated the Rover out of...