AndallthetimeIkeptthinking,itkeptrunningthroughmyhead:"Thephantomisupfromthecellarsagain!"

    Nightcertainlybroughtoutthestofjasmine.

    Shewhisperedmeathroatygreeting.Herfadedvoicemeantyouhadtocrouchtohearher,sohercachou-flavouredbreathstungyourcheek,andyoucouldtellshelovedtomakeyoucrouch.

    "Mysister,"shehusked,gesturingtowardsthelumberjackladyatgthisperformaninationandsubmissionwithherthumbsstuherbeltandanexpressionofunrelievedicismonherface.Hersister.God.

    Thelionrubbeditsheadagainstmyleg,makingmejump,andshepummelleditsgreyingmane.

    "Andthis--oh!youllhaveseenhimathousandtimes;moreexposurethananyofus.AllowmetointroduceLeo,formerlyofMGM."

    Theoldbeastcockeditsheadfromsidetosideandrain,inunmistakablefashion,asiftoidentifyitself.MickeyMousedoesherchauffeuring.Everym,shetakesarideer.

    &quratiaartis,"sheremindedme,asifguessingmythoughts."Wherecouldhego,poorcreature,wheiredhim?Nobodywouldtouchafallenstar.Sohecamerighthere,tolivewithMama,didntyou,darling."

    "Drinkies!"announcedSister,magnifitlyclatteringawele,bottle-ladentrolley.

    Afterthethirdpoolsidemartini,whichwasginatwhichalemonbrieflysneered,IjudgedithightimetobroachthesubjectofHankMann.Ititchdarkbythearsburning,nightsounds,seasounds,thecreakofthosemetalchairsthatseemedtohavebeendesigned,probablyonpurpose,bythebutchsister,tobreakyourballs.Butitwasdifficulttogetawordin.TheSpiritwasbrisklychegoutmyknowledgeofshistory.