The Life of the Fly 



The future was to show that my distrust 

 was justified. Narrow-mindedness and petty 

 jealousy prevail everywhere alike. 



I decide to help myself to this book, which 

 I should never get by asking. This is the 

 half-holiday. The science-master will not put 

 in an appearance to-day; and the key of my 

 room is practically the same as his. I go, 

 with eyes and ears on the alert. My key does 

 not quite fit; it sticks a little, then goes in; 

 and an extra effort makes it turn in the lock. 

 The door opens. I inspect the cupboard and 

 find that it does contain an algebra-book, one 

 of the big, fat books which men used to write 

 in those days, a book nearly half a foot thick. 

 My legs give way beneath me. You poor 

 specimen of a housebreaker, suppose you 

 were caught at it ! However, all goes well. 

 Quick, let's lock the door again and go back 

 to our own quarters with the pilfered volume. 



And now we are together, O mysterious 

 tome, whose Arab name breathes a strange 

 mustiness of occult lore and claims kindred 

 with the sciences of almagest and alchemy. 

 What will you show me? Let us turn the 

 leaves at random. Before fixing one's eyes on 

 a definite point in the landscape, it is well to 

 take a summary view of the whole. Page 



- 282 



