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bewilderment； then his face broke into a wrinkled network of laughter。
〃Oh； that's your game； is it？ You are going to do a little Siberian
Magic on your own account。 And is Mrs。 Hampton willing to be a
fellow…conspirator？〃
〃Mary is pledged to see me through with it； if you will guarantee
Louisa's temper。〃
〃I'll answer for Louisa；〃 said Lord Pabham。
By the following day the house…party had swollen to larger
proportions； and Bilsiter's instinct for self… advertisement expanded duly
under the stimulant of an increased audience。 At dinner that evening he
held forth at length on the subject of unseen forces and untested
powers； and his flow of impressive eloquence continued unabated while
coffee was being served in the drawing… room preparatory to a general
migration to the card…room。
His aunt ensured a respectful hearing for his utterances； but her
sensation…loving soul hankered after something more dramatic than mere
vocal demonstration。
〃Won't you do something to CONVINCE them of your powers；
Leonard？〃 she pleaded； 〃change something into another shape。 He can；
you know； if he only chooses to；〃 she informed the company。
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〃Oh； do；〃 said Mavis Pellington earnestly； and her request was
echoed by nearly everyone present。 Even those who were not open to
conviction were perfectly willing to be entertained by an exhibition of
amateur conjuring。
Leonard felt that something tangible was expected of him。
〃Has anyone present；〃 he asked； 〃got a three…penny bit or some small
object of no particular value …？〃
〃You're surely not going to make coins disappear； or something
primitive of that sort？〃 said Clovis contemptuously。
〃I think it very unkind of you not to carry out my suggestion of
turning me into a wolf；〃 said Mary Hampton； as she crossed over to the
conservatory to give her macaws their usual tribute from the dessert
dishes。
〃I have already warned you of the danger of treating these powers in
a mocking spirit；〃 said Leonard solemnly。
〃I don't believe you can do it；〃 laughed Mary provocatively from the
conservatory； 〃I dare you to do it if you can。 I defy you to turn me into
a wolf。〃
As she said this she was lost to view behind a clump of azaleas。
〃Mrs。 Hampton … 〃 began Leonard with increased solemnity； but he
got no further。 A breath of chill air seemed to rush across the room； and
at the same time the macaws broke forth into ear…splitting screams。
〃What on earth is the matter with those confounded birds； Mary？〃
exclaimed Colonel Hampton； at the same moment an even more piercing
scream from Mavis Pellington stampeded the entire company from their
seats。 In various attitudes of helpless horror or instinctive defence
they confronted the evil…looking grey beast that was peering at them
from amid a setting of fern and azalea。
Mrs。 Hoops was the first to recover from the general chaos of fright
and bewilderment。
〃Leonard！〃 she screamed shrilly to her nephew； 〃turn it back into
Mrs。 Hampton at once！ It may fly at us at any moment。 Turn it
back！〃
〃I … I don't know how to；〃 faltered Leonard； who looked more scared
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BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
and horrified than anyone。
〃What！〃 shouted Colonel Hampton； 〃you've taken the abominable
liberty of turning my wife into a wolf； and now you stand there calmly
and say you can't turn her back again！〃
To do strict justice to Leonard； calmness was not a distinguishing
feature of his attitude at the moment。
〃I assure you I didn't turn Mrs。 Hampton into a wolf； nothing was
farther from my intentions；〃 he protested。
〃Then where is she； and how came that animal into the
conservatory？〃 demanded the Colonel。
〃Of course we must accept your assurance that you didn't turn Mrs。
Hampton into a wolf；〃 said Clovis politely； 〃but you will agree that
appearances are against you。〃
〃Are we to have all these recriminations with that beast standing
there ready to tear us to pieces？〃 wailed Mavis indignantly。
〃Lord Pabham； you know a good deal about wild beasts … 〃
suggested Colonel Hampton。
〃The wild beasts that I have been accustomed to；〃 said Lord Pabham；
〃have come with proper credentials from well…known dealers； or have
been bred in my own menagerie。 I've never before been confronted
with an animal that walks unconcernedly out of an azalea bush；
leaving a charming and popular hostess unaccounted for。 As far as one
can judge from OUTWARD characteristics；〃 he continued； 〃it has the
appearance of a well…grown female of the North American timber…wolf；
a variety of the common species CANIS LUPUS。〃
〃Oh； never mind its Latin name；〃 screamed Mavis； as the beast came
a step or two further into the room； 〃can't you entice it away with food；
and shut it up where it can't do any harm？〃
〃If it is really Mrs。 Hampton； who has just had a very good dinner； I
don't suppose food will appeal to it very strongly；〃 said Clovis。
〃Leonard；〃 beseeched Mrs。 Hoops tearfully； 〃even if this is none of your
doing can't you use your great powers to turn this dreadful beast into
something harmless before it bites us all … a rabbit or something？〃
〃I don't suppose Colonel Hampton would care to have his wife
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turned into a succession of fancy animals as