A NEW ,YEAR'S FABLE
239
"My dear fellow!" our perpetually busy, shaggy-haired ec–
centric suddenly snapped. We all turned around. "The
new~
what we are seeking-is almost always to be found outside
the framework."
And opening
his
mouth (a mannerism of
his),
he laughed
noiselessly
in
the face of the severe critic. This gave us a new
insight into the character of our colleague.
For two years we had sat in the same office with him with–
out having any conception of the man! We had observed only
that he seldom shaved and that he flung his overcoat on a
chair. We had noted that half a button was missing from his
overcoat. Finally, we noticed that he did the work of four men.
But somehow we had not really gotten to know him!
"You know, I think I'll tell you an interesting story," we
again heard the voice of this colleague who was forever stooped
over his work.
We were all astonished: it was the first time we had been
so favored as to have him waste his time chatting with us! I had
no idea that our conversation about longevity would stir him
up so much.
"But I must first run down to the basement and start the
instruments working so as not to lose time," he added, rapidly
leaving the office.
"Is he a dry old stick or not?" someone asked.
"I don't think so!" our practical joker protested. "There
is a lady visits him sometimes. I live next door to him. A young
lady! I once bumped into her on the stairs. There she was walk–
ing along staring into space. Blinded by love."
"Do you know, he owns a unique sort of ancient watch.
It keeps very precise time and has to be wound only once a
year." It was the chief who said this.
"Here we are, friends!" exclaimed our greying, untidy new
colleague (for we had just got to know him this very day), our
work-horse, as he entered the office, sat down at his desk and
picked up a logarythmic slide. "You say nine hundred years ...
