"Master," remarked Fidu, "I have long suspected that in following this Impossible Curve we are not getting anywhere." "What difference does it make?" replied Gud, "we are only walking for recreation." "Oh, yes, I know all that, but still, I do not like to walk in a circle, because it makes me dizzy." "But we can't be walking in a circle," argued Gud, "because a circle is quite probable and this curve is impossible." "That may also be true, Master, but nevertheless we just passed that world again where you made a virgin prophetess out of a stupid girl, and I know that building ahead of us is the almshouse on the steps of which we found the poor old beggar whom you made so happy." Gud looked ahead. "Yes, Fidu," he agreed, "you are right; and perhaps we shall meet him again, for he will not be a beggar now but a rich and prosperous novelist." But alas! when they came up to the almshouse they found the same old beggar looking more disreputable than before. Gud reached over and shook him, but he did not stir nor answer. Gud turned quickly away and called Fidu, and they passed on. "Why did he not speak?" asked Fidu. "Because," answered Gud, "the poor old fellow was dead, apparently of starvation." "And you thought that he would be rich and prosperous." "Yes, yes, so I did. I gave him the chance of his life, too, by making triangles with three sexes and therefore perfectly moral--it just goes to show how useless it is to attempt to salvage these mendicants." Chapter XXVII As Gud was knocking about among the stars he saw yet another world spinning idly on its axis as it floated aimlessly in the nebulous ether. Prompted by curiosity he drew nearer and observed that the ether was full of ghosts. Most of them seemed to be observing the conduct of the beings in the material world below, and Gud rightly judged them to be demised of that reality and amusing themselves by watching the doings of their descendants. But there was one ghost of an old woman that seemed sore troubled and full of yearning for the beings of the world below, as if she would communicate to them some message and could find not the means of communication. Filled with compassion, Gud approached the ghost of the old woman and asked if he might be of service to her. But she merely gazed up at him out of troubled eyes and did not speak. Again Gud addressed her and again she answered not; and Gud concluded that she was a very dumb ghost. Thereupon Gud imagined a powerful medicine and poured it out in a make-believe goblet and gave to the dumb ghost to drink thereof. She accepted it gratefully and drank copiously; and immediately her mouth opened so that she spake volubly. When she had done with her thanks for the miracle, Gud asked her why she was troubled and why she looked upon the world below with such distress. "It is quite a long story," she began, as she seated herself upon the Rock of Ages.