“My dear boy, do not think for a moment that I doubt your honesty. Older men than you, and harder-headed ones, have digested more incredible things. In telling your story you ask me to believe what I consider impossible. There is no well-authenticated case on record of such a faculty. It would interfere with the workings of nature. Future events could not arrange themselves with any confidence in your vicinity, and all history that is to come, and even the elements, would be compelled to adjust themselves according to your predictions.”
“But, papa, you yourself had positive evidence that he knew of my coming two hours before I came. How do you explain that?”
“I do not pretend to explain it, and I will not infuriate Amos by calling it a good guess, or a startling coincidence.”
Amos smiled. “Oh, call it what you please, Mr. Cabot. But it seems to me that the fact of these things invariably coming true ought to count for something, even with the legal mind.”
“You say there has never been a single case in which your prophecy has failed?”
“Not one.”
“Suppose, just for illustration, that you should look ahead and see yourself in church next Sunday standing on your head in the aisle, and suppose you had a serious unwillingness to perform the act. Would you still go to church and do it?”
“I should go to church and do it.”
“Out of respect for the prophecy?”
“No, because I could not prevent it.”