Chance governs the descent of a farthing: Charles Darwin -- The wonderful form of cosmic order: Francis Galton -- The only ultimate test of the theory of natural selection: The early years of biometry -- Here is the true gospel: Biometry after Mendelism -- Reconciling the biometrical conclusions: Evolution from 1906 to 1918 -- What natural selection must be doing: R.A. Fisher's early synthesis -- Conclusions, histriographical and philosophical.