grateful, then, it was to gloat over them!
Besides, he comforted himself, probably, if the truth were known, the
Belphins _liked_ to work. He hailed a passing Belphin for assurance on
this point.

Courteous, like all members of his species, the creature leaped from
the street and listened attentively to the young man's question. "We
Belphins have but one like and one dislike," he replied. "We like what
is right and we dislike what is wrong."

"But how can you tell what is right and what is wrong?" Ludovick
persisted.

"We _know_," the Belphin said, gazing reverently across the city to
the blue spire of the tower where The Belphin of Belphins dwelt, in
constant communication with every member of his race at all times,
or so they said. "That is why we were placed in charge of humanity.
Someday you, too, may advance to the point where you _know_, and we
shall return whence we came."

"But _who_ placed you in charge," Ludovick asked, "and whence _did_
you come?" Fearing he might seem motivated by vulgar curiosity, he
explained, "I am doing research for an epic poem."

* * * * *

A lifetime spent under their gentle guardianship had made Ludovick
able to interpret the expression that flitted across this Belphin's
frontispiece as a sad, sweet smile.

"We come from beyond the stars," he said. Ludovick already knew that;
he had hoped for something a little more specific. "We were placed in
power by those who had the right. And the power through which we rule
is the power of love! Be happy!"

And with that conventional farewell (which also served as a greeting),
he stepped onto the sidewalk and was borne off. Ludovick looked after
him pensively for a moment, then shrugged. Why _should_ the Belphins
surrender their secrets to gratify the idle curiosity of a poet?

Ludovick packed his portable scriptwriter in its case and went to call
on the girl next door, whom he loved with a deep and intermittently
requited passion.

As he passed between the tall columns leading into the Flockhart
courtyard, he noted with regret that there were quite a number of
Corisande's relatives present, lying about sunning themselves and
sipping beverages which probably touched the legal limit of
intoxicatability.

Much as he hated to think harshly of anyone, he did not like Corisande
Flockhart's relatives. He had never known anybody who had as many
relatives as she did, and sometimes he suspected the