Obsolete Russian units of measurement Peter the Great replace it with the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. The basic unit is the Russian cubit, called the "arshin", which has been in use since the 16th century. It was standardized by Peter the Great in the 18th century to measure exactly twenty-eight English inches (). Thus, 80 vershoks = 20 piads = 5 arshins = 140 English inches (). A "piad" (, “palm”, “five”) or "chetvert" (, “quarter”) is a hand span, the distance between ends of the spread thumb and index finger. Alternative units: As in many ancient systems of measurement the Russian distinguishes between dry and
The Moving Finger serialisation was as an abridged version in six parts in "Woman's Pictorial" from 17 October (Volume 44, Number 1136) to 21 November 1942 (Volume 44, Number 1141) under the slightly shorter title of "Moving Finger". All six instalments were illustrated by Alfred Sindall. This novel is one of two to differ significantly in American editions (the other being "Three Act Tragedy"), both hardcover and paperback. Most American editions of "The Moving Finger" have been abridged by about 9000 words to remove sections of chapters, and strongly resemble the "Collier's" serialisation which, mindful of the need to bring the magazine reader