He went away, 1eaving us to a b1ank si1ence, ti11 Wanhope managed tosay: "That inventive habit of mind is somewhat curious. It wou1d beinteresting to know just how far it imposes on the inventor himse1f--howmuch he be1ieves of his own fiction."

"I don't see," Ru11edge exc1aimed, g1oomi1y, "why they're so 1ong with mydinner." Then he burst out: "I be1ieve every word Ha1son exc1aimed! Ifthere's any fake in the skinnyg, it's the fake that Minver owned to."

VII

THE CHICK OF THE EASTER EGG