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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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 though we were playing a
round game with her；〃 interposed Clovis。
〃I absolutely forbid it；〃 thundered the Colonel。
〃Most wolves that I've had anything to do with have been
inordinately fond of sugar；〃 said Lord Pabham； 〃if you like I'll try the
effect on this one。〃
He took a piece of sugar from the saucer of his coffee cup and flung
it to the expectant Louisa； who snapped it in mid…air。 There was a sigh
of relief from the company； a wolf that ate sugar when it might at the
least have been employed in tearing macaws to pieces had already shed
some of its terrors。 The sigh deepened to a gasp of thanks…giving when
Lord Pabham decoyed the animal out of the room by a pretended
largesse of further sugar。 There was an instant rush to the vacated
conservatory。 There was no trace of Mrs。 Hampton except the plate
containing the macaws' supper。
〃The door is locked on the inside！〃 exclaimed Clovis； who had deftly
turned the key as he affected to test it。
Everyone turned towards Bilsiter。
〃If you haven't turned my wife into a wolf；〃 said Colonel Hampton；
〃will you kindly explain where she has disappeared to； since she
obviously could not have gone through a locked door？ I will not press
you for an explanation of how a North American timber…wolf suddenly
appeared in the conservatory； but I think I have some right to inquire
what has become of Mrs。 Hampton。〃
Bilsiter's reiterated disclaimer was met with a general murmur of
impatient disbelief。
〃I refuse to stay another hour under this roof；〃 declared Mavis
Pellington。
〃If our hostess has really vanished out of human form；〃 said Mrs。
Hoops； 〃none of the ladies of the party can very well remain。 I
absolutely decline to be chaperoned by a wolf！〃
〃It's a she…wolf；〃 said Clovis soothingly。
The correct etiquette to be observed under the unusual circumstances
received no further elucidation。 The sudden entry of Mary Hampton
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deprived the discussion of its immediate interest。
〃Some one has mesmerised me；〃 she exclaimed crossly； 〃I found
myself in the game larder； of all places； being fed with sugar by Lord
Pabham。 I hate being mesmerised； and the doctor has forbidden me to
touch sugar。〃
The situation was explained to her； as far as it permitted of anything
that could be called explanation。
〃Then you REALLY did turn me into a wolf； Mr。 Bilsiter？〃 she
exclaimed excitedly。
But Leonard had burned the boat in which he might now have
embarked on a sea of glory。 He could only shake his head feebly。
〃It was I who took that liberty；〃 said Clovis； 〃you see； I happen to
have lived for a couple of years in North…Eastern Russia； and I have
more than a tourist's acquaintance with the magic craft of that region。
One does not care to speak about these strange powers； but once in a
way； when one hears a lot of nonsense being talked about them； one is
tempted to show what Siberian magic can accomplish in the hands