Skill is fine, and genius is splendid, but the right contacts are more valuable than either. Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius. How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth? Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science, and should be treated in the same cold unemotional manner. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism, which produces the same effect as if you worked a love-story into the fifth proposition of Euclid. Mediocrity does not see higher than itself. But talent instantly recognizes the genius. When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, however improbable, must be the truth. |