"I limited myself to exercises 10, 15 and 28. Do you happen to remember what those are for?"
"Not particularly."
"No. Well, I started with No. 10. No. 10 you may recall is one of the most perilous. I nearly died over No. 10. And when I had been doing it for a week I discovered what its particular object was."
"What?"
"'To round the forearm'! Yes, madam," I said bitterly, "I have spent a week of agony ... and I have rounded one forearm."
"Why didn't you try another?"
"I did. I tried No. 15. Six times in the pursuit of No. 15 have I been shot up to the ceiling by the left foot ... and what for, Adela? 'To arch the instep'! Look at my instep! Why should I want to arch it?"
"I wish I could remember which chart I sent you," said Adela, wrinkling her brow.
"It was the wrong one," I said....
There was a long silence.