"Not even that!"...replied the other with perfect gravity--
"Inasmuch as in the kingdom of Hypharus, whose borders touch ours,
the inhabitants, also highly civilized, do count their quantities
by a totally different method; and to them two and two are NOT
four, the numbers two and four not being included in their system
of figures. Thus,--a Professor from the Colleges of Hypharus could
obstinately deny what to us seems the plainest fact known to
common-sense,--yet, were I to argue against him I should never
persuade him out of his theory,--nor could he move me one jot from
mine. And viewed from our differing standpoints, therefore, the
first simple multiplication of numbers could never be proved
correct beyond all question!"

Theos glanced at him in wonder,--the man must be mad, he thought,
since surely any one in his senses could see that two objects
placed with other two must necessarily make four!

"I confess you surprise me greatly, sir!"--he said, and, in spite
of himself, a little quiver of laughter shook his voice.. "What I
asked was by way of jest,--and I never thought to hear so simple a
subject treated with so much profound and almost doubting
seriousness! See!"--and he picked up four small stones from the
roadway--"Count these one by one, . . how many have you? Surely even
a professor from Hypharus could find no more, and no less than
four?"

Very deliberately, and with unruffled equanimity, the other took
the pebbles in his hand, turned them over and over, and finally
placed them in a row on the edge of the balustrade near which he