"No."
"She became involved in a set of remarkable crimes, which engaged the attention of the IPCC. They may even call on you to verify some of her allegations. Or they may refer the matter to the local IPCC affiliate, which of course is Bureau B."
"Certainly it is, nothing to concern me." Floreste turned back to Dame Doma, and continued his conversation.
Ticia, who had already taken critical note of Glawen's garments, spoke to him in a crisp voice: "Am I mistaken or have you gone out of your way to make our local genius uncomfortable?"
"You are mistaken. I have not gone a single hair's breadth out of my way."
"This "Ordene Zaa': is she one of Floreste's lovers, or something of the sort?"
"Nothing would surprise me. Both are remarkable people."
"Hmmf. You've been away, haven't you? I don't recall seeing you about for a while."
"Yes, I've been away."
"It is bad news about your father. Come to think of it, you're now a collateral! Yet here you sit, large as life, at our House Supper, where collaterals are roundly snubbed."
"Are you planning to snub me?"
"Henceforth, yes. I can't very well do so tonight, since we are sitting beside each other, and it is all too easy for you to claim my attention."
"I am not overly sensitive," said Glawen.
"Snub me all you like."
"I hardly need your permission," said Ticia.
"Indeed I snub almost everyone; it makes my favor ever so valuable."
Bodwyn Wook told Glavven: "Pay no heed to the little fool;
already she is losing her looks; in another ten years she'll be all teeth, nose and clavicle like her aunt. Dame Audlis."
Ticia said: "Tonight, Uncle Bodwyn, your wit is more entertaining than ever. You are becoming quite the enfant terrible in your old age."
"Quite so, Ticia. I am much too mordant, and your stance is correct. Propriety must be maintained and collaterals must not be allowed to trade on old associations. Glawen, I can wait no longer to hear your story. Let us finish our supper in the side room."
Bodwyn Wook and Glawen departed the room. In the corridor, Bodwyn Wook asked: "There is no doubt whatever as to Floreste's guilt?"
"None."
"In that case, I will have him taken up and conveyed to the jail. I must wait till after supper, however, lest I offend Ticia's standards of gentility. What of Kirdy?"
"He betrayed me, you and the bureau. He was subject to mental stress, which was perhaps too much for him. I can't evade the feeling that he knew very well what he was doing.
But I would prefer that you form your own opinion."
"My opinion was formed at the dinner table. Indeed, you are dealing too generously with Kirdy. He dealt you a last blow of which you are not aware. When he returned to Araminta, he assured me that you were dead, on absolute and definite authority. I therefore canceled the rescue mission which was on the verge of departure. He lied to me;
he knows it and I know it. It could have meant the difference between life and death for you. I am not happy with Kirdy. He will face an inquiry, and at minimum lose Wook status."
"He seems much saner now than when I left him at Fexelburg."
"Come now; let us ingest the rest of our supper. We shall talk as we eat."
Glawen and Bodwyn Wook dined in a small parlor off the central gallery. In language as terse as possible Glawen told of his investigations and the difficulties he had encountered in the process.
"As I sit here and think back over what happened, I feel a dozen emotions. The strongest is relief that it is all over. There were good moments, of
course: when my feet hit the ground outside the seminary.
Even tonight I took a certain cruel pleasure watching Kirdy and Floreste across the table."
"And now come the tiresome details. Floreste will demand leniency. His victims were only Yips; they were the raw material of a new artistic technique; he is everywhere recognized as a genius and must not be bound by ordinary regulations. Dame Dorna may very well endorse such arguments; she dotes on him and is a member of the Fine Arts Committee."
A footman entered the room.
"Your instructions have been followed, sir."
Bodwyn Wook nodded with satisfaction.
"As I expected, Floreste and Kirdy, pleading fatigue, left the supper early.
They were accosted at the door and taken into custody. The dignity of the House Supper has not been compromised. Well, then, enough of that. May I pour you some more wine? This is our best Chariste and excels anything else of its type produced at the station."
"It is indeed very good."
