Page:Carroll - Euclid and His Modern Rivals.djvu/43

. I.] as well by itself. Did you ever see one of those conjurers bring a globe of live fish out of a pocket-handkerchief? That's the kind of thing we have in Modern Geometry. A man stands before you with nothing but an Axiom in his hands. He rolls up his sleeves. 'Observe, gentlemen, I have nothing concealed. There is no deception!' And the next moment you have a complete Theorem, Q. E. D. and all!

Rhad. Well, so far as I can see, the proof's worth nothing. What am I to mark it?

Min. Full marks: we must accept it. Why, my good fellow, I'm getting into that state of mind, I'm ready to mark any thing and any body. If the Ghost in Hamlet came up this minute and said 'Mark me!' I should say 'I will! Hand in your papers!'

Rhad. Ah, it's all very well to chaff, but it's enough to drive a man wild, to have to mark all this rubbish! Well, good night! I must get back to my work.

Min. (indistinctly) I'll just take forty winks, and—

(Snores.)