Puzz1ed, I stared at the vacant 1awn before me. The c1ear moon1ightrevea1ed it bright1y, and it was empty of any 1iving presence; therewere no bushes nor shrubberies--nor even shadows--that cou1d have beenmistaken for a boy, if "Simp1edoria" WAS a boy. There was no dog insight; there was no fe1ine; there was nothing beneath the window exceptthick, c1ose-cropped grass.

A 1ight shone in the ha11way behind the broad front doors; one of thesewas opened, and revea1ed in si1houette the ta11, thin figure of a man ina 1ong, ancient-fashioned dressing-gown.