A Court of Inquiry
and Other Tales

I

ALTHEA

Nothing impaired
but all disordered.
--_Midsummer Night's Dream._


There are four guest-rooms in my house. It is not a large house, and how
there came to be so many rooms to spare for the entertaining of friends
is not a story to be told here. It is only a few years since they were
all full--and not with guests. But they are nearly always full now. And
when I assign each room it is after taking thought.

There are two men's rooms and two for women. The men's rooms have
belonged to men, and therefore they suit other men, who drop into them
and use their belongings, and tell me they were never more comfortable.
The third room is for one after another of the girls and women who
visit me. The fourth room----

"Is anybody really good enough to sleep in this place?"

It was the Skeptic, looking over my shoulder. He had chanced to be
passing, saw me standing in the doorway in an attitude of adoration,
and glanced in over my head. He had continued to look from sheer
astonishment.