He made use of every kind of mental device, except analogy, and passed too boldly, it seemed to Prince Andrew, from one to another.

Now he would take up the position of a practical man and condemn dreamers; now that of a satirist, and laugh ironically at his opponents; now grow severely logical, or suddenly rise to the realm of metaphysics.

(This last resource was one he very frequently employed.

) He would transfer a question to metaphysical heights, pass on to definitions of space, time, and thought, and, having deduced the refutation he needed, would again descend to the level of the original discussion.