258 MEMORIES OF MY LIFE 



burst into a good-humoured and uproarious laugh, and 

 told me the famous story which I have heard from 

 each of the other two who were present on the 

 occurrence. Huxley was one of them. Spencer, 

 during a pause in conversation at dinner at the 

 Athenaeum, said, "You would little think it, but I 

 once wrote a tragedy." Huxley answered promptly, 

 " I know the catastrophe." Spencer declared it was 

 impossible, for he had never spoken about it before 

 then. Huxley insisted. Spencer asked what it was. 

 Huxley replied, " A beautiful theory, killed by a 

 nasty, ugly little fact." 



