As they rode, Soldinck spoke of the Galante and affairs of the voyage. “Wormingers are a temperamental lot. This has been made clear to me by Lankwiler who leapt on a worm and rode off to the north, and Cugel, whose conduct is barely less eccentric. Cugel of course will be put ashore here at Pompodouros, and you, so I hope, will assume his duties — especially, my dear fellow, if you will sell me your good worm at a price fair to us both.”
“No difficulty whatever,” said Cugel. “What price did you have in mind?”
Under his veil Soldinck frowned thoughtfully. “At Saskervoy such a worm as yours might well sell for as high as seven hundred or even eight hundred terces. Applying the proper discounts, we arrive at a rough but generous sum of six hundred terces.”
“The figure seems somewhat low,” said Cugel dubiously. “I had hoped for at least a hundred terces more.”
Soldinck reached into his pouch and counted forth six golden centums. “I fear that this is all I am now able to pay.”
Cugel accepted the money. “The worm is yours.”
“That is the way I like to do business,” said Soldinck. “Briskly and with minimal haggling. Fuscule, you are a clever fellow and a hard bargainer! You will go far in this world.”
“I am happy to hear your good opinion,” said Cugel. “Now see yonder: that is the house of Terlulia. Driver, stop the carriage!”
The driver, pulling back a long lever, constricted brackets against the legs of the drogger, and so brought the beast to a stand-still.
Soldinck alighted and considered the structure which Cugel had pointed out. “That is the house of Terlulia?”
“Exactly so. You will notice her sign.”
Soldinck dubiously surveyed the placard which Terlulia had affixed to her door. “With the red paint and flashing orange lights, it is hardly demure.”
“That is the basic nature of camouflage,” said Cugel. “Go to the door, detach the sign and carry it into the hut.”
Soldinck drew a deep breath. “So be it! Mind you now, not so much as a hint to Madame Soldinck! In fact, now would be an excellent time to show her the Paphnissian Baths if Bunderwal has brought her back to the ship.”
Cugel bowed politely. “I shall see to it at once. Driver, take me to the ship Galante.”
The carriage returned toward the harbor. Looking over his shoulder, Cugel saw Soldinck approach Terlulia’s hut. The door opened to his coming; Soldinck seemed to freeze in his tracks and then to sag somewhat on limp legs. By a means invisible to Cugel, he was snatched forward and into the house.
As the carriage approached the harbor, Cugel spoke to the driver: “Tell me something of the Paphnissian Baths. Do they confer any palpable benefits?”
“I have heard conflicting reports,” said the driver. “We are told that Paphnis, then Goddess of Beauty and Gynodyne of the Century, paused on the summit of Mount Dein to rest. Nearby she found a spring where she laved her feet, thus charging the water with virtue. Sometime later the Pandalect Cosmei founded a nympharium on the site and built a splendid balneario of green glass and nacre, and so the legends were proliferated.”
“And now?”
“The spring flows as before. On certain nights the ghost of Cosmei wanders among the ruins. At other times one may hear the faint sound of singing, no more than a whisper, apparently echoes of songs sung by the nymphs.”
“If there were indeed efficacy to the waters,” mused Cugel, “one would think that Krislen and Ottleia and even the redoubtable Terlulia would make use of the magic. Why do they not do so?”
“They claim that they want the men of Pompodouros to love them for their spiritual qualities. It may be sheer obstinacy, or perhaps they have all tested the springs, without effect. It is one of the great female mysteries.”
“What of the spraling?”
“Everyone must eat.”
The carriage entered the plaza and Cugel called the driver to a halt. “Which of these avenues leads up to the Paphnissian Baths?”
The driver pointed. “Just along there and then five miles up the mountainside.”
“And what is your fee for the trip?”
“Ordinarily I charge three terces, but for persons of importance the fee is occasionally somewhat higher.”
“Well then, Soldinck has required me to escort Madame Soldinck to the Baths and she prefers that we go alone, to minimize her embarrassment. I will therefore hire the use of your carriage for ten terces, plus an additional five terces to buy your beer during my absence. Soldinck will disburse this sum upon his return from the hut of Terlulia.”
“If he has the strength to lift his hand,” grumbled the driver. “All fees should be paid in advance.”
“Here is your beer money, at least,” said Cugel. “The rest must be collected from Soldinck.”
“It is irregular, but I suppose it will do. Observe then. This pedal accelerates the vehicle. This lever brings it to a halt. Turn this wheel to direct the vehicle in the way you wish to go. If the drogger squats to the ground this lever drives a spur into its groin and it will leap forward with renewed vigor.”
“Clarity itself,” said Cugel. “I will return your carriage to the rank in front of the club-house.”
Cugel drove the carriage to the wharf and halted beside the Galante. Madame Soldinck and her daughters sat in lounging-chairs on the quarter-deck looking across the plaza and commenting upon the curious sights of the town.
“Madame Soldinck!” called Cugel. “It is I, Fuscule, who have come to escort you to the Baths of Paphnis. Are you ready? We must make haste, since the day is drawing on!”
“I am quite ready. Is there room for all of us?”
“I am afraid not. The beast could not pull us up the mountain. Your daughters must remain behind.”
Madame Soldinck descended the gangplank and Cugel jumped to the ground. “‘Fuscule’?” mused Madame Soldinck. “I have heard your name but I cannot place you.”
“I am the nephew of Pulk the worminger. I am selling a worm to Master Soldinck and I hope to become worminger aboard your ship.”
“I see. Whatever the case, it is kind of you to take me on this excursion. Will I need special bathing clothes?”
