o some extent, but
you couldn't say anything worse about him than that. All in all, he
wasn't a bad bird and she mustn't let herself be influenced by
rumormongers like Griblo.

* * * * *

Tarb got up and took the letter to Stet. He was in his office dictating
to Miss Snow. _After all_, Tarb could not repress the ugly thought, _why
should he care about the scriptos? He'll never have to use a
typewriter._

And he was perfectly nice about being interrupted. The only thing he
didn't like was being contradicted. _I'm getting bitter_, she told
herself in surprise. _And at my age, too. I wonder what I'll be like
when I'm old._

This thought alarmed her and so she smiled very sweetly at Stet as she
murmured, "Would you mind reading this?" and gave him the letter.

"Run into another little snag, eh?" he said affably, giving her foot a
gentle pat with his. "Well, let's see what we can do about it."

_Montreal_

_Dear Senbot Drosmig:_

_I am a chef at the Cafe Inter-stellaire, which, as everyone knows,
is one of the most chic eating establishments on this not very chic
planet. During my spare moments, I am a great amateur of the local
form of entertainment known as television. I am especially
fascinated by the native actress Ingeborg Swedenborg, who, in spite
of being a Terran, compares most favorably with our own Fizbian
footlight favorites._

_The other day, while I am in the kitchen engaged in preparing the
ragout celeste a la fizbe for which I am justly celebrated on nine
planets, I hear a stir outside in the dining room. I strain my
ears. I hear the cry, "It is Ingeborg Swedenborg!"_

_I cannot help myself. I rush to the doorway. There, behold, the
incomparable Ingeborg herself! She follows the headwaiter to a
choice table. She is even more ravishing in real life than on the
screen. On her, it does not matter that she has no feathers save on
the head--even skin looks good. Overcome by involuntary ardor, I
boo at her. Whereupon I am violently assailed by a powerfully built
native whom I have not previously noticed to be escorting her._

_I am rescued before he can do me any permanent damage, though, if
you wish the truth, it will be a long time before I can fly again.
However, I am given notice by the cold-hearted management. Now I am
without a job. And what is mor