Floreste rose to his feet.

"I have come to an important decision. It may seem strange to everyone here, but I consider it right and proper, and at last I find myself at peace." He indicated the document he had just composed.

"This is my will. It is dated and the exact hour of the day is specified. I will read it:

"To whom it may concern:

"This is my last and final will, inscribed during the afternoon previous to my death. I am of sound mind and calm in disposition, as the witnesses will attest. This will supersedes all others, specifically and " particularly that will wherein I bequeathed my belongings to Simonetta co-Clattuc Zigonie: which will is here and now declared canceled and invalid in each and all of its provisions. Now, of my free will and upon careful judgment, I bequeath everything of which I die possessed, including all monies, bank accounts, items on deposit in the vaults at the Bank of Mircea in Soumjiana, all precious articles, gems and works of an, all lands, properties, estates, personal effects and all other possessions, to Captain Glawen Clattuc, in the hope and expectation that he will put these funds and derived income to the uses which he knows to be dear to my heart: namely, the construction of a so-called New Orpheum at Araminta Station. I sign this will in the presence of the undersigned witnesses."

Floreste took up the pen and appended his name to the document, then handed the pen to Marcus Diffin.

"Sign."

Marcus Diffin signed.

Floreste gave the pen to Bodwyn Wook.

"Sign."

Bodwyn Wook signed as instructed.

Floreste folded the will and handed it to Bodwyn Wook.

"I

entrust this into your keeping. Execute it quickly and make sure of the property! There will be great complaint since in my account are funds which Smonny reckons to be her own.

Namour is on his way to Soumjiana to execute my previous will and withdraw those funds."

"So this is the reason for Namour's anxiety at the meeting.

Is there a ship leaving today?"

"There is indeed," said Floreste.

"The Karessimnss. Namour will be aboard."

Bodwyn Wook ran from the room, to avail himself of the telephone in Marcus Diffin's office.

"That is all," Floreste told Glawen.

"You may go, and I will sit here reflecting upon the strange lands I shall be wandering through tomorrow."

"Would you like a bottle of wine to enliven your thoughts?"

Floreste asked suspiciously: "What kind of wine? The last you brought was proper gut-wrench."

"Marcus will bring in some good Green Zoquel."

"That will do."

"I will make sure your money is used as you would wish."

"I have no worries on that score. I am at peace."

Glawen departed the chamber. He told Marcus: "I promised Floreste a bottle of Green Zoquel. Will you see to it?"

"I will do so at once."

Bodwyn Wook came slowly away from the telephone.

"The Karessi- muss departed over an hour ago. Namour was aboard.

Somehow he gave my men the slip. Ysel Laverty is out looking for them now."

"When Namour arrives at Soumjiana--what of Floreste's money?"

"It is safe. First of all, it is still bound tight by your litigation, which has not yet been lifted. Secondly, such affairs go with deliberation. The will must be validated, and the records searched; and Floreste must be proved dead.

The process might take anywhere from a month to three months. In the meantime the latest will can be probated here, and much more quickly. Floreste's property is safe."

"Now we also know why Floreste insisted on writing his information."

"How so?"

"Are you ready for a shock?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Why do you think Titus Pompo is so careful to remain unseen and unknown?"

"I have often wondered."

Glawen provided the explanation.

At last Bodwyn Wook found his tongue.

"This may be the principal reason for Namour's hurry to leave. He is now demonstrated to be at least a passive co-conspirator in Ogmo Enterprises and the Thurben Island affair, and he would not escape stringent punishment: at least twenty years at Cape Journal. Perhaps worse. We will not see him at Araminta Station again. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a few melancholy details to arrange."

"At least Floreste will be drinking good wine' when the gas enters his cell."

"There are worse ways of dying. Do you have your information?"

"I am not allowed to look at it until sunset."

"It makes no difference now. Namour has flown the coop."

"Still, I'll honor Floreste's last wishes. I'd feel strange otherwise."