“Oh,” said Mr. Lister, “the great discovery of Zugassent opened up a manner of life by which married people could preserve their sacred reverence for each other, and make the state of courtship a perpetual one. When we saw that we could enter into the joys of marriage without ravaging each other like wild beasts, we had no longer any reason for not doing so. We decided to get married at once.” “But,” said I, as soon as I could speak, “you talk as though I knew all about Zugassent and his discovery, when in fact I never heard of either.” “Why,” said Mr. Lister, “it was the wonderful discovery of Zugassent that emboldened the women to strike, and gave a logical basis for their movement. Before that discovery was made, much as they desired the Magna Charta which they are now asking, they were reasonable, and scarcely saw how man could give it. The problem seemed too deep and intricate for any possible solution. But when Zugassent’s discovery was made, they saw that it took away from man all excuse for withholding this right. They demanded it at once.” At this fresh promise of an utterly unlooked-for revelation, I felt a despairing kind of anger. Could this be the same world in which I had for thirty-five years lived a sober and commonplace life? Mr. Lister had already, in the few days which I had spent with him, dazed me and amazed me with the stunning character of the intelligence which he had conveyed to me. Did he wish to craze me also? Unconsciously I put my hand to my head and stared at him in helpless, pathetic reproach. But he did not appear to be conscious of my feelings. At last when I had mastered myself enough to speak calmly, I said: “I wish that you would tell me all about Zugassent and his discovery. I have been trying to find out the causes of this singular Strike, and now I hear for the first time that it was assisted by a great discovery about which I am entirely ignorant. I entreat you to tell me who Zugassent was and what was his discovery?”