THE EQUINOX
hood itself, not to mention humanity—while he is occupied
in playing spillikins, and further insults you by explaining
that he is trying to prove that, if you only do it carefully
enough, you can detach planets from the solar system without
hurting it.
On this occasion, however, Rolles was fortunate enough
to find the Brother whom he knew at leisure—even for him.
His feet were on the mantelpiece; a long pipe was in his
mouth, and he was twiddling his thumbs.
“Ave, Frater] " said he, as Rolles entered.
“Also Vale.
How you young brothers manage to find trouble
I "
"Miss Pendragon will be out of the hospital in four
days,” began Edgar in explanation.
“Lucky dog!” said the great man.
“ But the funny
thing is that 1 am in trouble too.”
I am sorry.”?
0111װ
”I wonder if you could help.
It’s this way.
Sometimes
I twiddle my thumbs so—we call that the plus direction: and
sometimes so—the minus direction.
Now I lost count years
and years ago; and so whichever way I twiddle, I may be
getting further and further from equality.
Then how—I
ask you l—may man attain to the Universal Equilibrium?”
“Wouldn’t it be safer not to twiddle at all?” suggested
Rolles meekly.
“ Inglorious
youth
! ”
retorted
the
Brother.
“ Base
Buddhist!
So you could never equalise the count!
No!
My plan is—always to twiddle one way.
It is an even
chance that my way is right."
“But if you should be wrong?”
“I shall be damned, I suppose.”
I44