was empty, but Coryndon was
fiddling with some crumbs at the edge of the table.

"Madness is the real explanation, I suppose," he said tentatively.
"Madness and obsession."

"Obsession," echoed Coryndon. "That word explains almost every
inexplicable act in life." He took up a knife and held it level on his
palm. "There you have the normal condition, but once one end swings up
you get Genius and all the Arts, or madness and crime and the obsession
of one idea: one definite, over-mastering idea that drives every force
harnessed to its car."

He got up and stretched his arms, and walked out through the veranda
into his room, where Shiraz was folding his clothes and laying them in
an open portmanteau. The old servant stood up and made a low salaam to
his master.

"When the sun is down the wise traveller hurries to the Serai," Coryndon
said to him. "I leave to-night for Madras, Shiraz, and you with me."

"The end of all things is just, Huzoor," replied the old man, a strange
light of reflection in his dim pebble-like eyes. "Is it not written that
none may rise so high, or plunge so deep, that he does not follow the
hidden path to the hidden end? For like a wind that goes and returns
never, or the shadow of a cloud passing over the desert, is the destiny
of a man."

GLOSSARY

_Almirah_ A press
_Babu_ A clerk
_Butti_ Lamp
_Charpoy_ Bed
_Chota haziri_ (Little breakfast) Early morning tea
_Dhobie_ Washerman
_Durwan_ Watchman
_Ghee_ Butter
_Gharry_ Cab
_Gaudama_ Buddha
_Htee_ Topmost pinnacle
_Hypongyi_ Priests
_Inshallah, Huzoor_ God give you fortune, Prince
_Joss_ A god
_Khitmutghar_ Footman
_Loongyi_ Petticoat
_Napi_ Rotten fish
_Nats_ Tree spirits
_Pani walla_ Water carrier
_Pwe_ Feast
_Serai_ Rest house
_Sirkar_ Government
_Syce_ Groom
_Tamasha_ A show
_Thakin_ Master
_Topi_ Hat

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pointing Man, by Marjorie Douie

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POINTING MAN ***

***** This file should be named 14049.txt or 14049.zip *****
This and all a