"It may take more than a minute."

"Well, one way or another, get on with it! What do you want:

the assignment sheet? Here it is; you'll have to work the problems yourself;

I haven't got to them yet."

Aries pushed the sheet aside.

"I've just heard about last night's meeting. To my utter shock, I find that Glawen has been taken into the Bold Lions."

(' "True, by unanimous acclamation. An excellent choice;

don't you agree?"

"In no way, shape, form, color or smell! And I'll tell you why:

Glawen simply does not have the right stuff! He's the bashful sort, always peeking around corners. As I see it, the Bold Lions are a driving hell-for-breakfast bunch who always come out on top, and devil take the hindmost! Glawen?

A sorry little milksop, if truth must be told."

Uther pursed his lips.

"I am surprised to hear this! The rest of the membership feels that we've made quite a good catch."

"Doesn't anyone have common sense? Why go out of our way to enroll a Bureau B spy to report every little peccadillo to the authorities?"

Uther gave a wry laugh.

"Come now! Kirdy is Bureau B and you don't raise a howl."

Aries blinked and considered.

"Well, Kirdy is a Mummer and that makes a difference, believe me. He's not a prig and knows when it's best to ignore the red tape."

Uther said reasonably: "It really makes no difference. I for one intend to break no laws."

"Nor do I! But now we'll have to gauge every innocent little indiscretion, just to make sure Glawen is not offended."

Kirdy Wook had come up to listen. He said in disgust:

"Aries, you are hysterical!"

"Call it what you like! I just don't want Glawen keeping score every time I blow my nose."

Uther appeared to ponder.

"It's a difficult situation. What should we do?"

Aries pounded his fist into the palm of his meaty hand.

"Obviously:

reconsider this flawed election!"

Kirdy chuckled.

"It's clear that Aries must have his way.

Uther, what is proper procedure, as defined in the bylaws?"

"Proper procedure be Mowed!" declared Aries.

"We need only tell the blighter that a mistake was made and that he is not a Bold Lion after all."

"Impossible," said Kirdy.

"He was voted in unanimously."

"Well, we can't have dissension," said Uther.

"Tonight we'll call a special meeting and Aries can bring an action to expel if he's willing to take the risk."

Aries stuttered: "I did not say expel! I said 'not admit'!"

"We must work within the bylaws," said Uther.

"You need six votes out of eight to expel, and if you fail, you're out yourself. You won't get Glawen's vote; that's certain.

Kirdy?"

"I nominated Glawen; I'd look pretty silly voting to turf him out."

"I seconded the nomination, and the same applies to me.

Aries, it looks as if the vote has gone against you. Do you propose to resign?"

"No," said Aries.

"Forget the special meeting. I'll work this out some other way."

A remarkable set of events, each controlling the shape of the next in sequence, received its first impulse at a class in social anthropology at the lyceum.

The class, a prerequisite for graduation, was taught by Professor Yvon Dace, one of the least predictable of a notably unconventional faculty. Dace looked his part, with a high forehead, a few lank wisps of dust-colored hair, mournful dark eyes, a button nose, a long upper lip and an odd little crab apple of a chin.

Professor Dace's somewhat diffident appearance was belied by his conduct, which was often surprising. At the beginning of the term he made his position clear.

"Whatever you have heard about me, dismiss it. I do not regard my class as a confrontation between the clear light of my intellect and twenty-two examples of sloth and wilful stupidity. The exact number may be only half that, if we are lucky, and of course varies from term to term. Despite all, I am a kindly man, patient and thorough, but if I must elucidate the obvious more than twice, I often become gloomy.