III.

“By a slight _and_ momentary movement, which the owner can easily effect, he can[1] ascertain[2] with considerable accuracy the size, colour, shape, weight (S. 10, N. 9), and value of[3] any article whatever. A[4] person possessed of one is[5] thus saved from the necessity of asking _a_ thousand questions and[6] trying a variety of troublesome experiments, which would otherwise be necessary; and such a slow and laborious process[7] would, after[8] all, not succeed[9] half so well as a single application of this admirable instrument.”

GEORGE. “If it is such a very useful thing[10] (S. 27, N. 8), =I wonder=[11] that[12] everybody, that can at all afford it, does not have one.”

[1] To avoid repetition render the verb ‘can’ here by +imstande sein+.

[2] +bestimmen+, which use in the form of a Supine and place at the end of the whole clause.

[3] of — whatever, +irgend eines Gegenstandes+.

[4] A — one = The possessor.

[5] is — questions = needs therefore (+also+) not (to) ask _a_ thousand questions. To ask a question, +eine Frage stellen+.

[6] and — experiments = and to make various troublesome experiments.

[7] +Verfahren+, n.

[8] after all not, +doch nicht+, which must not be placed between commas. Comp. S. 15, N. 3.

[9] +gelingen.+

[10] thing = object.

[11] =I wonder=, +es wundert mich+; we wonder, +es wundert uns+; you wonder, +es wundert Sie+.

[12] that — one = that not everybody, who can at all (+irgend+) make it possible, possesses the same (to agree with ‘object’).

_Section 91._

A CURIOUS INSTRUMENT.