physics and chemistry departments in the University of California.
Professor Carey laughed at him... at the first.

"My dear boy," Professor Carey began.

Dick waited patiently till he was through. Then Dick began, and
concluded.

"I'm not a fool, Professor Carey. High school and academy students are
children. They don't know the world. They don't know what they want,
or why they want what is ladled out to them. I know the world. I know
what I want and why I want it. They do physics for an hour, twice a
week, for two terms, which, with two vacations, occupy one year. You
are the top teacher on the Pacific Coast in physics. The college year
is just ending. In the first week of your vacation, giving every
minute of your time to me, I can get the year's physics. What is that
week worth to you?"

"You couldn't buy it for a thousand dollars," Professor Carey
rejoined, thinking he had settled the matter.

"I know what your salary is--" Dick began.

"What is it?" Professor Carey demanded sharply.

"It's not a thousand a week," Dick retorted as sharply. "It's not five
hundred a week, nor two-fifty a week--" He held up his hand to stall
off interruption. "You've just told me I couldn't buy a week of your
time for a thousand dollars. I'm not going to. But I am going to buy
that week for two thousand. Heavens!--I've only got so many years to