"Very well," said Glawen.

"If you will share them with me."

Without comment the girl brought a pot of tea and a platter of small pastries. She poured a single cup. Glawen said:

"Please, pour for yourself as well."

"As you like." She poured another cup of tea and sat watching Glawen without interest, a situation which at last prompted Glawen to ask: "What is your name?"

"Sujulor Yerlsvan Alasia. It is a North Wind name."

"My name is Glawen, from the House ofClattuc."

"That is an odd name."

"It seems ordinary enough to me. Are you interested in where I come from? Or anything about me?"

"Not really. I must take events as they come."

"So I am an 'event."" "Yes, that is so."

"Do all the girls at Yipton come to work here? Or just the prettiest?"

"Almost all work here for a time."

"Do you like the work?"

"It is easy. I don't like some of the men and I am pleased to be done with them."

"Do you have a lover?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Some young man who loves you and whom you love."

"No; nothing like that. What an odd idea!"

"Would you like to travel, and visit other worlds?"

"I have not thought too much about it. I wonder why everyone asks me that question."

"I'm sorry if I'm boring you," said Glawen.

The girl ignored him.

"It is time that you should go, or pay a surcharge. You may leave your gratuity on the table."

"I think not, since it all goes to the Oomphaw."

"As you please."

Glawen returned to the sitting room. Presently, all the Bold Lions

were on hand, Kiper arriving last, and it developed that Kiper had been the only Bold Lion to undertake an "around-the-world voyage."

Fader inquired if anyone cared to commission a special pageant;

receiving a negative response from Shugart he conducted the group back to the hotel.

"Will you be requiring my services tomorrow?" he asked.

"Most probably not," said Shugart.

"Beyond doubt you have made today memorable, and I, for one, will never forget you."

"That is good to hear," said Fader.

"Your praise has sweetened an otherwise trying day for me." He bowed and departed.

Shugart turned to the other Bold Lions.

"Well, what now? The night is still young!"

"I think I will settle myself to another of those excellent rum punches," said Kiper.

Cloyd declared: "For once in his life, Kiper has had a rational thought. As we drink he can describe to us the scenery encountered on his around-the-world voyage."

Glawen, meanwhile, found Kirdy sitting in a quiet corner of the lobby, turning the pages of an old magazine. Glawen slid into a seat beside him.

Kirdy tossed the magazine aside.

"How did it go at Pussycat Palace?"

"About what I expected."

"You don't seem all that enthusiastic."

"It's not an enthusiastic environment. The girls are polite enough 'dutiful' is probably a better word but still, in the end I just drank tea."

"Most fastidious of you."

Not for the first time it occurred to Glawen that Kirdy did not like him very much.

"It wasn't that at all."

"The girl smelled bad?"

Glawen shook his head.