"It is rather long to follow out; but, put as briefly as I can, it is somewhat thus: Graubosch admits the possibility of an infinite number of successions of Antecedents, as we have an infinite number of results or sequents. But the effect on the Metaphysician of contemplating such a condition of the Universe is fatal to reasoning, and may easily produce suspension of the faculties. Philosophy stipulates for a _modus vivendi_; and as a working necessity for argument, if for no other reason, Graubosch refers the whole of the Universe to _one_ Invariable Necessary Antecedent; which he accepts, for reasons which appear to me satisfactory, as obviously superior to any one unit of its results or sequences. We have no right, he says, to assume that _any_ result or consequence is not achievable by such an Antecedent." "I concur, on the whole. Does Graubosch ascribe intelligence, in our sense of the word, to this Antecedent?" "Certainly not. Intelligence is merely a sequence or consequence of some minute fraction ... of ... of its power." "Why did you hesitate?" "From a feeling that Power itself may only be a finite humanism, so to speak--an Entity on all fours with Intelligence. But the Metaphysician has to leave himself a few words, to speak with. Now the idea of _greater_ and _less_ is axiomatic, and it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that _our_ Intelligence is a lesser thing than its working substitute in the Invariable and Necessary Antecedent." "I quite understand. To create Intelligence, its Creator when creating himself must go one better--break his own anticipated record. What are Graubosch's views about Good and Evil? They both are factors in our existing System, especially the latter." "He ignores both, as antiquated and unnecessary. In his System, the fruitless discussions about which is which--where one ends and the other begins, and so on--disappear entirely." "That sounds good. Vice and Virtue could shake hands over it--a Coalition Ministry, don't you know?" "Pardon me!--the exact reverse. Party Government would be intensified. But I ought to describe what Graubosch terms the _Plus_ and _Minus_ of his System, in its Moral or Ethical aspects. The first expression recognizes in what has been hitherto absurdly called 'Good' merely the Invariable and Necessary Antecedent leaking out, so to speak, and becoming perceptible to our Senses. The second, in what has been equally absurdly called 'Evil,' its diminution or repression." Challis yawned. He was getting bored. "Does not that," he said, "assume the existence of some counter-power, able to diminish and repress?" "Graubosch avoids doing so. And therein lies the beauty of his System. His _Minus_ is simply negation of his _Plus_. An exact parallel is supplied by the phenomena of light and darkness. To ascribe to darkness powers of extinguishing light is scientifically absurd." "I see." Challis spoke in a winding-up tone. His bore perceived it, and dexterously pinioned him.