He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.

An intelligent observation of the facts of human existence will reveal to shallow-minded folk who sneer at the use of coincidence in the arts of fiction and drama that life itself is little more than a series of coincidences.

He was suffering from the loss of an illusion.

Thirstily he set it to his lips, and as its cool refreshment began to soothe his throat, he thanked Heaven that in a world of much evil there was still so good a thing as ale.

Open the history of the past at whatsoever page you will and there you shall find coincidence at work bringing about events that the merest chance might have averted. Indeed, coincidence may be defined as the tool used by Fate to shape the destinies of men and nations.

He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.

There remained the sea, which is free to all, and particularly alluring to those who feel themselves at war with humanity.