The Equinox (Volume I, Number VI)

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