fluke a ten-shot at billiards, but you call him a player only when he can
average a  break of thirty or so every time he goes to the table.
But in some branches of magick we can give proof on the spot; in any
branch, that is, where the female, and not the male, part of us is concerned.
The analogy is quite perfect. Thus, in my guess at your birth-hour — was not
that a test? I will do it all day, and be right five times in six. Further, in the
event of error, I will show exactly why I was wrong. It's a case where one is
sometimes right to be wrong, as I'll explain one day. Then again, your own
clairvoyance; I did not tell you that sort of a Thing to look for; yet you saw it
under the same form as I did. You shall practice these things daily with Cyril
if you like, always checking your results in a way which he will show you;
and in a month you will be an expert. Then, if you feel you want to advertise,
do. But you won't.
Besides, the real trouble is that not one person in a thousand cares for [115]
any form of science whatever; even such base applications of science as the
steam-engine and all its family, from the telegraph to the automobile, were
only thrust upon the unwilling people by bullies who knew that there was
money in them. Who are your 'men of science' in the popular notion of to-
day? Edison and Marconi, neither of whom ever invented anything, but were
smart business men, with the capacity to exploit the brains of others, and turn
science to commercially useful and profitable ends. Heigho!"
"We're a long way from our subject," said Cyril. "I have had a delightful
morning — I have felt like Plato with the Good, the True, and the Beautiful
in contemplating you three — but we have work before us. I propose in this
emergency to copy the tactics of Washington at Valley Forge. We will make
a direct and vehement attack on the Black Lodge: they will expect me to be in
my usual position in the van — I will slip away with Lisa while the fires
blaze brightest."
"A sound plan," said Simon. "Let us break up this conference, and put it
immediately into execution. You had better not attract attention by collecting
luggage, and you must certainly take no person outside the Order into your
circle. So after dinner you will put on your other clothes, walk down to the
Metro, cross to the Gare de Lyon, and jump into the Rome rapide. Wire me
when you arrive at The Butterfly-Net!" [116]