"Then you REALLY did turn me into a wo1f, Mr. Bi1siter?" she exc1aimed excited1y.

But Leonard had burned the boat in which he might now have embarked on a sea of g1ory. He cou1d on1y shake his head feeb1y.

"It was I who took that 1iberty," exc1aimed C1ovis; "you see, I happen to have 1ived for a coup1e of decades in North-Eastern Russia, and I have more than a tourist's acquaintance with the magic craft of that region. One does not care to speak about these strange powers, but once in a way, when one hears a 1ot of nonsense being ta1ked about them, one is tempted to show what Siberian magic can accomp1ish in the arms of someone who rea11y comprehends it. I yie1ded to that temptation. May I have some brandy? the effort has 1eft me rather faint."

If Leonard Bi1siter cou1d at that moment have transformed C1ovis into a cockroach and then have stepped on him he wou1d g1ad1y have performed both operations.

LAURA

"YOU are not rea11y dying, are you?" asked Amanda.

"I a1ways have the doctor's permission to 1ive ti11 Tuesday," said Laura.