Venus/Aphrodite, the veritable Primate of Venus for New York herself, in
a voice that managed to be all at once regal, pleasant and seductive.

Forrester, already in, could think of nothing to say. The gaze of Her
Concupiscence fell on the half-open door. "You may retire, Captain," she
said to the waiting Myrmidon. "And allow no one to enter here until I
give notice."

"Very well, Your Concupiscence," the Myrmidon said.

The door shut.

Forrester snapped erect from his bow, and then realized that he could do
nothing but stand there until he had more information. What was the
High Priestess of Aphrodite doing in the Tower of Zeus All-Father
anyway? And--always supposing she had the right to be there, as of
course she must have had--what did she want with William Forrester?

He heaved a great sigh. This was turning into an extremely puzzling day.
First there had been the message and the card admitting him to the
Tower. Then there had been (the sigh changed in character) Maya Wilson.
And then (the sigh changed again, into a faint echo of a groan) the
fight in the _Boat House_.

Now he was having an audience with the Primate of Venus for New York.

Why?

The High Priestess's smile gave him no hint. She raised herself to a
sitting position and patted the couch. "Sit over here," she said. "Next
to me." Then she changed her mind. "No," she added. "First just walk
over here, stand up and turn around. Slowly."

Forrester's brain was whirling like a top, but his face was, as usual,
expressionless. He did as she had bid him, wondering frantically what
was going on, and why?

After he had turned completely around and stood facing her again, the
High Priestess simply sat and studied him for almost a full minute,
looking him up and down with eyes that were totally unreadable.
Forrester waited.

Finally she nodded her head slowly. "You'll do," she said, in a
reflective tone, and nodded her head again. "Yes, you'll do."

Forrester couldn't restrain his questions any longer. "_Do?_" he burst
out. "I mean," he continued, more quietly, "what will I do for, Your
Concupiscence?"

"Oh, for whatever honor it is that our beloved Goddess has in mind for
you," the High Priestess said offhandedly. "I can certainly see that you
will do. A little pudgy around the middle, but that's a trifle and
hardly matters. The important things are there. You're obviously strong
and quick."

At that point Forrester caught up with the first sen