“The ancient cipher has overreached himself. He has given you a choice of two problems, both of which he deems insoluble. Neither of them is insoluble. The only gleam of intelligence old Cotangent showed was when he said that squaring the circle was too easy. He was right. It would have given you your _Liebchen_ in five minutes. I squared the circle before I discarded pantalets. I will show you the work; but it would be a digression, and you are in no mood for digressions. Our first chance, therefore, lies in perpetual motion. Now, my good friend, I will frankly tell you that, although I have compassed this interesting problem, I do not choose to use it in your behalf. I, too, Herr Tom, have a heart. The loveliest of her sex frowns upon me. Her somewhat mature charms are not for Jean-Marie Rivarol. She has cruelly said that her years demand of me filial rather than connubial regard. Is love a matter of years or of eternity? This question did I put to the cold, yet lovely, Jocasta.” “Jocasta Surd!” I remarked in surprise, “Abscissa’s aunt!” “The same,” he said sadly. “I will not attempt to conceal that upon the maiden Jocasta my maiden heart has been bestowed. Give me your hand, my nephew, in affliction as in affection!” Rivarol dashed away a not discreditable tear, and resumed: “My only hope lies in this discovery of perpetual motion. It will give me the fame, the wealth. Can Jocasta refuse these? If she can, there is only the trap-door and--Kerguellen’s Land!” I bashfully asked to see the perpetual-motion machine. My uncle in affliction shook his head. “At another time,” he said. “Suffice it at present to say that it is something upon the principle of a woman’s tongue. But you see now why we must turn in your case to the alternative condition, infinite speed. There are several ways in which this may be accomplished theoretically. By the lever, for instance. Imagine a lever with a very long and a very short arm. Apply power to the shorter arm which will move it with great velocity. The end of the long arm will move much faster. Now keep shortening the short arm and lengthening the long one, and as you approach infinity in their difference of length, you approach infinity in the speed of the long arm. It would be difficult to demonstrate this practically to the professor. We must seek another solution. Jean-Marie will meditate. Come to me in a fortnight. Good night. But stop! Have you the money--_das Gelt_?” “Much more than I need.” “Good! Let us strike hands. Gold and knowledge, science and love, what may not such a partnership achieve? We go to conquer thee, Abscissa. _Vorwärts!_” When at the end of a fortnight I sought Rivarol’s chamber, I passed with some little trepidation over the terminus of the air line to Kerguellen’s Land, and evaded the extended arms of the Petty-Cash-Adjuster. Rivarol drew a mug of ale for me, and filled himself a retort of his own peculiar beverage.