MS-WU-MSS008-3-49

[1508] trim could not mean anything else, anything better, than the distribution
of the sixteen stones in four groups of four, one group in each pocket,
and that it was my refusal to consider any distribution other than this
that had vitiated my calculations until then and rendered the problem
literally insoluble. [1509] And it was on the basis of this interpretation,
whether right or wrong, that I finally reached a solution, inelegant
assuredly, but sound, sound.

[1510] Now I am willing to believe, indeed I
firmly believe, that other solutions to this problem might have been
found,and indeed may still be found, no less sound, but much more
elegant, thaⁿ the one I shall now describe, if I can. [1511] And I believe
too, that had I been a little more insistent, a little more resistant,
I could have found them myself.

[1512] But I was tired, but I was tired, and
I contented myself ingloriously with the first solution that was a
solution, to this problem. [1513] But not to go over the heartbreaking stages
through which I passe^d before I came to it, here it is, in all its
hideousness.

[1514] It was merely (merely!) a matter of putting for example,
to begin with, six stones in the right pocket of my greatcoat, or
supply-pocket, five in the right pocket of my trousers, and fi^ve in
the left pocket of my trousers, that makes the lot, twice five ten
plus six sixteen, and none, for none remained, in the left pocket of
my greatcoat, which for the time being remained empty, empty of stones
that is, for its usual contents remained, as well as occasional objects.

[1515] For where do you think I hid my vegetable knife, my silver, my horn and
the other things, that I have not yet named, perhaps shall never name.
[1516] Good. [1517] Now I can begin sucking. [1518] Watch me closely. [1519] I take a stone from
the right pocket of my greatcoat, suck it, stop sucking it, put it in
the left pocket of my greatcoat, the one em^pty (of stones). [1520] I take a
second stone from the right pocket of my greatcoat, suck it, put it in the
left pocket of my greatcoat. [1521] And so on until the right pocket of my