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CLOVUS and JARUS walk through the town after lunch . . .
Jarus: Just look at that, Clovus, in the shop window, for I have looked at it now for three weeks. A truly exquisite and remarkable chess set. But the price, far out of my range to be sure. If I were the winner of one of these lotteries, then I would be rich and I would buy it and enjoy it, particularly when polishing you off in a stunning display of tactics and fine play!
Clovus: I cannot agree with you, Jarus.
Jarus: Hah! I have shown my mettle against you over the board more than once, Clovus, I should say we are close to an even match!
Clovus: Perhaps, Jarus, but it is not on that point that I disagree with you.
Jarus: Then what?
Clovus: I do not think you would buy it and enjoy it if you suddenly became a wealthy man.
Jarus: Just watch me, if I am so fortunate! Why would I not?
Clovus: For the reason, I am reminded of an incident from my childhood, when I passed by a man standing outside the front door of his house on a snowy cold night with a hot cup of tea.
Jarus: Yes?
Clovus: I said to him, 'Sir, why do you stand out here drinking your tea? I see by the smoke leaving your chimney that it is warm inside.' He said to me, 'Well boy, I can better appreciate its warmth out here than next to a hot fire, it tastes better this way.'
Jarus: Did you ask him then if snow was the spice of life, Clovus?!
Clovus: Ah, and you call me a scoundrel. Perhaps if it were not so bitter cold that night I would have debated such a thing with him, but I was hurrying home myself, and I was more struck by what he said than any ancillary issues.
Jarus: How does this pertain to me, Clovus?
Clovus: Only this. You would not appreciate your hot tea, Jarus, if you suddenly became rich, for you would never be in the cold to drink it.
Jarus: I do not follow, Clovus.
Clovus: Jarus, if fate dropped this bundle of money in your lap, you would pass by this shop window, or perhaps on a whim buy the set, and it would shortly be another dust collector in a house, nay a mansion then, full of other dust collectors.
Jarus: I think I understand.
Clovus: You would not enjoy it like you would now if you were to have it, alas, in a few months time, you would not even remember it. You would be on to another set, then another still, for what value do material things have to the wealthy, when their value need not even be considered for their puchase?
Jarus: Yes, yes, I understand your point, Clovus. I do prize the set more now than I would if it were easily affordable, and indeed I would enjoy it more now as well, if not in use than in appreciation I am sure.
Clovus: Well then, Jarus, may I suggest we pool our resources and pay the shop owner a visit inside.
Jarus: Ah! Splendid, Clovus, a fine idea! But then, where shall we keep the set?
Clovus: By all means, Jarus, keep it at your place, for though my abode is no more dusty than yours, it indeed has more windows, and I would not like to have to concern myself with them after my triumphs.
Jarus: As to that, Clovus, you shall see that I wield my pieces much more effectively than that, indeed you shall!
