It was ridiculous, but it was a fact.

In spite of all his pulling and straining, the ball remained where it was as though it had been rooted in the foundations of the world.

He was wise enough to know when he was beaten, so he let go, and when he pulled himself up, somewhat flushed after his exertions, he said: "Well, Mister Phadrig, I don't know how you do it, but I've got to confess that it lets me out.

I'm beaten.

If you can make the law of gravitation do what you want, you're a lot bigger man in physics than I am." He turned and went back to his place, looking, as his daughter whispered to Nitocris, "pretty well shaken up." The Prince caught Phadrig's eye for an instant, and said: "Miss Marmion, will you confound the wisdom of the wise and bring the ball here ?" It was not the words but the challenge in them that impelled her to rise from her chair, aided by Merrill's hand, and not the one that the Prince held out, and walk across the lawn towards Phadrig.