"There is indeed the flavor of Spanchetta in this business."

"Could she change my number?"

"That's an interesting question. She works at Bureau A and has access to the computer. Still, she'd never dare fiddle with the machinery; that's a capital crime. Whatever she has done, if anything, is bound to be legal."

Glawen shook his head in puzzlement.

"Why should she want to do such a thing? What difference does my number make to her?"

"We don't know yet whether or not anything has been done. If so, Spanchetta may or may not be responsible. If so again, the answer is simple. She forgets and forgives nothing. I'll tell you a story you've probably never heard before.

"Long ago she made up her mind to marry me, and she actually schemed with the House Mistress and Dame Lilian the Chatelaine so that they all began to take the match seriously, even without so much as consulting me. One evening, we were playing epaing. Spanchetta was on the court, shouting and cursing and making flamboyant signals,

and calling fouls where none existed and gray balls when they were pink, and yelling in outrage when someone dropped in a lob. Wilmor Veder called over to me: "Well, then, Scharde, looks like your marriage will be quite an adventure."

"I said: "I'm not getting married; where did you hear that?"

""It's all over! Everybody is talking about it."

""I wish someone would let me in on the secret. Who is the lucky| woman?" | ""Spanchetta, of course! I heard it from Carlotte." ;.

""Carlotte is talking doodle. I'm not marrying Spanchetta!

No^g today, not tomorrow, not last year, not at the second coming of Puliusl Feistersnap. In short, never, and not even then! Does that set matters| straight?"

"

"It sounds definite to me. Now you need only convince Spanchetta," who is standing right behind you." | "I looked around and there stood Spanchetta breathing flame.:

Everybody laughed and Spanchetta tried to murder me with her epaing bat, which made everyone laugh even more.

"So then, just for spite, she married poor Minis, and also took up;

with Namour. But she never forgave me.

"About a year later, I married your mother at Sarsenopolis on .Alphecca Nine. When we returned to Araminta Station, there were unpleasant incidents, many of them. Marya ignored them; so did I. Then you were born, and Spanchetta dislikes you in triplicate: because of me and your mother and because you are everything Aries is not. And now it just might be that she has found an opportunity to express herself."

"It's hard to believe."

"Spanchetta is a strange woman. You wait here; I want to make some inquiries."

Scharde went directly to the Bureau A offices in the New Agency, where, in his capacity as Commander of Police, he was able to make his investigation without hindrance.

Time was short; in two hours the House Supper, as inexorable in its regularity as the motion of Lorca around Sing, would begin. Scharde returned to Clattuc House and took himself to the pleasant high-ceilinged apartments occupied by Housemaster Fratano.

As Scharde entered the reception hall, he met Spanchetta coming from the inner parlor. Both stopped short, each thinking that here was the person he least wanted to see. Spanchetta spoke sharply:

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you," said Scharde.

"But, as a matter of fact, I have Agency business to take up with Fratano."

"The time is late. Fratano is dressing." Spanchetta looked Scharde up and down.

"Are you coming to the Supper in that outfit? But why should I ask? You are notoriously lax where propriety is concerned."

Scharde gave a rueful laugh.

"I neither admit nor deny, but never fear! I'll be on hand when the soup is served! Now I have business with Fratano; please excuse me."

Spanchetta grudgingly moved aside.

"Fratano is occupied with his own dressing and won't wish to be bothered. I'" take in your message, if you like."

"I must see to this matter myself." Scharde stepped in front of Spanchetta, holding his breath against the warm and heavy scent, half perfume, half female fecundity, which she exuded. He entered Fratano's private parlor and carefully closed the door, almost in Spanchetta's face.

Fratano, wearing a loose lounge-robe, sat in an easy chair with one long pallid foot propped on a cushioned stool, while a Yip maidservant massaged his lower leg. He looked up with a questioning frown.

"Well, then, Scharde, what is it now? Can't you come at a more convenient time?"

"The time will never be more convenient, as you will learn.

Send the girl away; our conversation must be private."

Fratano made a peevish clicking sound with his tongue.

"Is it so vital as all that? Paz is not interested in our talk."

"Possibly not, but I have noticed that Namour knows everything about everybody. Need I say more? Girl, take yourself from the room, and close the door as you leave."

After a glance at Fratano, the maid rose. She took up her pot of ointment and with a cool half-smile for Scharde, left the room.

"So, now!" growled Fratano.

"What is of such importance that it interferes with my massage?"

"Today is Glawen's sixteenth birthday, and he becomes a provisional."

Fratano blinked, suddenly thoughtful.

"What of it?"

"Have you been notified of his official SI?"

"Yes, so I have." Fratano coughed and cleared his throat.

"Again-what of that?"