Beasts and Super-Beasts by Saki


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Page 1

However divided opinion might be on the question of Leonard's status as a
wonderworker or a charlatan, he certainly arrived at Mary Hampton's house-
party with a reputation for pre-eminence in one or other of those
professions, and he was not disposed to shun such publicity as might fall
to his share. Esoteric forces and unusual powers figured largely in
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.

"Have you such a thing as a she-wolf in your collection of wild animals?
A she-wolf of moderately good temper?"

Lord Pabham considered. "There is Loiusa," he said, "a rather fine
specimen of the timber-wolf. I got her two years ago in exchange for
some Arctic foxes. Most of my animals get to be fairly tame before
they've been with me very long; I think I can say Louisa has an angelic
temper, as she-wolves go. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering whether you would lend her to me for to-morrow night,"
said Clovis, with the careless solicitude of one who borrows a collar
stud or a tennis racquet.

"To-morrow night?"

"Yes, wolves are nocturnal animals, so the late hours won't hurt her,"
said Clovis, with the air of one who has taken everything into
consideration; "one of your men could bring her over from Pabham Park
after dusk, and with a little help he ought to be able to smuggle her
into the conservatory at the same moment that Mary Hampton makes an
unobtrusive exit."

Lord Pabham stared at Clovis for a moment in pardonable 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.

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Books | Photos | Paul Mutton | Fri 29th Mar 2024, 11:32