'Ah, there I must not follow you. You would lead me into a controversy. A controversy is a thing I never engage in. Controversy belongs to the poetic or idle age. Controversies were undertaken to convince others. Science cares only to convince itself. If I say two and two are four, and can prove it to my own satisfaction, I am quite content. I don't ask you to adopt my demonstration of the theorem. If you wish for them you are welcome to my data, and you can try the theorem yourself. Or you can accept my proof, or you can let it all alone. Why should I seek to compel you to believe me or not? But if you say three and five are eight, that is another thing. You may be able to prove what you say. If you are, that ought to be enough for you. Suppose we both agree that four and four are eight, why should you come to me and say, "We both agree four and four are eight; there is some common ground between us. Come and put your four with my eight. Then we shall be partners in twelve?" But I don't care for a partner. Why should you?' 'I don't know,' said Osborne drearily. 'The road you go is a very barren one.' 'Ah, that is controversial. You say music is the finest art; I say painting. Very well. Let you stick to your fiddle and I to my brush. Why should you want the hairs of my bow to paint, or I want to mix my colours on the back of your fiddle!' At that moment there was a commotion. Silence fell upon the assembly, the chairman took his seat, and the members and the guests assumed attitudes of attention. There was a pause. Then the chairman said a few words, and called upon Mr Wilfrid Parkinson to address the meeting. There was a slight delay, during which Osborne glanced round once more upon the broken-down-looking men assisting at this unholy rite.