And as the convex fits not into the convex, but into the concave; so do men fit into their opposites; and so fitted Borabolla's arched paunch into Jarl's, hollowed out to receive it.
But how now?
Borabolla was jolly and loud: Jarl demure and silent; Borabolla a king: Jarl only a Viking;--how came they together?
Very plain, to repeat:--because they were heterogeneous; and hence the affinity.

But as the affinity between those chemical opposites chlorine and hydrogen, is promoted by caloric; so the affinity between Borabolla and Jarl was promoted by the warmth of the wine that they drank at this feast.

For of all blessed fluids, the juice of the grape is the greatest foe to cohesion.

True, it tightens the girdle; but then it loosens the tongue, and opens the heart.
In sum, Borabolla loved Jarl; and Jarl, pleased with this sociable monarch, for all his garrulity, esteemed him the most sensible old gentleman and king he had as yet seen in Mardi.

For this reason, perhaps; that his talkativeness favored that silence in listeners, which was my Viking's delight in himself.
Repeatedly during the banquet, our host besought Taji to allow his henchman to remain on the island, after the rest of our party should depart; and he faithfully promised to surrender Jarl, whenever we should return to claim him.
But though I harbored no distrust of Borabolla's friendly intentions, I could not so readily consent to his request; for with Jarl for my one only companion, had I not both famished and feasted?
was he not my only link to things past?
Things past!--Ah Yillah! for all its mirth, and though we hunted wide, we found thee not in Mondoldo..