“‘What’s wrong, Pavel Semenovich?’
“‘It’s disgraceful,’ I said.
“‘You know,’ he said, ‘I’ve changed one quarrelsome goal for another not less quarrelsome. That was wrong and now it’s disgraceful. My theory works out all right for me,’ he said. ‘Honor and everything like that is nothing but dessert. You know it comes after dinner. If there’s no dinner, what’s the use of dessert?...’
“‘But, remember, Rogov,’ I said, ‘why you have no dinner.... You studied well, had a good start, and then suddenly went wrong....’
“That moment I thought my statement was not only convincing but incontrovertible.... And he looked at me, laughed, and said:
“‘You’ve sometimes played billiards a little, haven’t you?’
“‘Yes,’ I said, ‘I play for relaxation....’
“‘You know the downward stroke?’
“‘Yes.’ You know that’s a peculiar and paradoxical shot. The ball first goes forward and then it suddenly and apparently of its own accord rolls back.... At first sight it seems incomprehensible and a violation of the laws of motion, but it’s really simple.