whatever conversation he or his aunt had a share in, and his own
performances, past and potential, were the subject of mysterious hints
and dark avowals.

"I wish you would turn me into a wolf, Mr. Bilsiter," said his hostess at
luncheon the day after his arrival.

"My dear Mary," said Colonel Hampton, "I never knew you had a craving in
that direction."

"A she-wolf, of course," continued Mrs. Hampton; "it would be too
confusing to change one's sex as well as one's species at a moment's
notice."

"I don't think one should jest on these subjects," said Leonard.

"I'm not jesting, I'm quite serious, I assure you. Only don't do it to-
day; we have only eight available bridge players, and it would break up
one of our tables. To-morrow we shall be a larger party. To-morrow
night, after dinner--"

"In our present imperfect understanding of these hidden forces I think
one should approach them with humbleness rather than mockery," observed
Leonard, with such severity that the subject was forthwith dropped.

Clovis Sangrail had sat unusually silent during the discussion on the
possibilities of Siberian Magic; after lunch he side-tracked Lord Pabham
into the comparative seclusion of the billiard-room and delivered himself
of a searching question.