Wanniston fixed the other man with a piercing gaze. "Sorry," he said. "Quite sorry. But it can not be done that way, you know. The whole proposition was your idea."
"I know," said the other man. He inspected Wanniston's large, well-proportioned frame, his strong features, and his absolute poise and wondered how any man, with all to recommend him, could be so utterly unsympathetic. The coldness in his face set him apart from one of the Galactic Ones. "The proposition was sensible enough—yet I failed. Even though I failed, my manipulations were properly done, you will agree."
Wanniston nodded.
"Where did I fail?"
"You struck a snag."
"It was not my fault."
"Are you crawling?" snapped Wanniston.
"Perhaps," said the other man bitterly. "I want to know how I failed."
Wanniston smiled deprecatorily. "Lincoln, you failed because you neglected to take everything into account. Before you succeed—before you can hope to plan without failure, you must learn to take everything into account."
"One cannot take everything into account."