FROM THE BACKCOVER "But there was an artisan, once upon a time, who made a glass vial that couldn't be broken. On that account he was admitted to (Tiberius) Caesar with his gift; then he dashed it upon the floor, when Caesar handed it back to him. The Emperor was greatly startled, but the artisan picked the vial up off the pavement, and it was dented, just like a brass bowl would have been! He took a little hammer out of his tunic and beat out the...