The grim face of the spinster betrayed a great deal of pleasure and a great deal of pathos also. “I believe it's true,” she said. “If it is, it will not only be great glory which women, I assure you, feel a great deal, but great relief, which they feel more; relief from worry from a lot of things. James' health has never been good, and while we are as poor as we are he had to do journalism and coaching, in addition to his own dreadful grinding notions and discoveries, which he loves more than man, woman, or child. I have often been afraid that unless something of this kind occurred we should really have to be careful of his brain. But I believe it is practically settled.” “I am delighted,” began Basil, but with a worried face, “but these red-tape negotiations are so terribly chancy that I really can't advise you to build on hope, only to be hurled down into bitterness. I've known men, and good men like your brother, come nearer than this and be disappointed. Of course, if it is true--” “If it is true,” said the woman fiercely, “it means that people who have never lived may make an attempt at living.” Even as she spoke the professor came into the room still with the dazed look in his eyes. “Is it true?” asked Basil, with burning eyes. “Not a bit true,” answered Chadd after a moment's bewilderment. “Your argument was in three points fallacious.” “What do you mean?” demanded Grant. “Well,” said the professor slowly, “in saying that you could possess a knowledge of the essence of Zulu life distinct from--” “Oh! confound Zulu life,” cried Grant, with a burst of laughter. “I mean, have you got the post?” “You mean the post of keeper of the Asiatic manuscripts,” he said, opening his eye with childlike wonder. “Oh, yes, I got that. But the real objection to your argument, which has only, I admit, occurred to me since I have been out of the room, is that it does not merely presuppose a Zulu truth apart from the facts, but infers that the discovery of it is absolutely impeded by the facts.” “I am crushed,” said Basil, and sat down to laugh, while the professor's sister retired to her room, possibly to laugh, possibly not.