1                   2
+---------------+   +---------------+
\  R  / \  B  /     \  B  / \  R  /
\   /   \   /       \   /   \   /
\ /  G  \ /         \ /  G  \ /
\-------/           \-------/
\     /             \     /
\ Y /               \ Y /
\ /                 \ /
’                   ’

3                   4                   5
+---------------+   +---------------+   +---------------+
\  R  / \  R  /     \  R  / \  G  /     \  Y  / \  R  /
\   /   \   /       \   /   \   /       \   /   \   /
\ /  G  \ /         \ /  G  \ /         \ /  G  \ /
\-------/           \-------/           \-------/
\     /             \     /             \     /
\ Y /               \ Y /               \ Y /
\ /                 \ /                 \ /
’                   ’                   ’

6                   7                   8
+---------------+   +---------------+   +---------------+
\  G  / \  Y  /     \  Y  / \  Y  /     \  G  / \  G  /
\   /   \   /       \   /   \   /       \   /   \   /
\ /  G  \ /         \ /  G  \ /         \ /  G  \ /
\-------/           \-------/           \-------/
\     /             \     /             \     /
\ Y /               \ Y /               \ Y /
\ /                 \ /                 \ /
’                   ’                   ’

]

282.—­THE ANTIQUARY’S CHAIN.

[Illustration]

THE number of ways in which nine things may be arranged in a row without any restrictions is 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 x 6 x 7 x 8 x 9 = 362,880.  But we are told that the two circular rings must never be together; therefore we must deduct the number of times that this would occur.  The number is 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 x 6 x 7 x 8 = 40,320 x 2 = 80,640, because if we consider the two circular links to be inseparably joined together they become as one link, and eight links are capable of 40,320 arrangements; but as these two links may always be put on in the orders AB or BA, we have to double this number, it being a question of arrangement and not of design.  The deduction required reduces our total to 282,240.  Then one of our links is of a peculiar form, like an 8.  We have therefore the option of joining on either one end or the other on every occasion, so we must double the last result.  This brings up our total to 564,480.

We now come to the point to which I directed the reader’s attention—­that every link may be put on in one of two ways.  If we join the first finger and thumb of our left hand horizontally, and then link the first finger and thumb of the right hand, we see that the right thumb may be either above or below.  But in the case of our chain we must remember that although that 8-shaped link has two independent ends it is like every other link in having only two sides—­that is, you cannot turn over one end without turning the other at the same time.