hen--" She got up and
went to the door.

The Captain and a small, fat priest in a golden-edged tunic were tangled
confusedly outside. The High Priestess looked away from them in disdain
and said regally: "You may permit the Healer to enter, Captain." The
tangle came untied and the little priest scooted in. To him, as the door
closed again, the High Priestess whispered: "Sorry. I didn't expect you
quite so soon."

"No more did I!" The priest waved his caduceus furiously, so that it
seemed as if the twin snakes twined round it were moving, the two wings
above them beating, and the ball surmounting all, on top of the staff,
traced uneasy designs in the air. "Myrmidons!" he said.

"I certainly regret--"

"If you boiled down their brains for the fat content, one alone would
supply the Temple with candles for a year! Just beef and nothing more!
Beef! Beef!"

Then, with a start, he seemed to see the High Priestess for the first
time, and his tone changed. "Oh," he said. "Good evening, Your
Concupiscence."

"Good evening," the High Priestess said in an indulgent tone.

"Well, well, well," the priest said. "What seems to be the trouble? My
goodness. It must be important, sure enough--certainly important." His
little round red eager face seemed to shine as he went on. "Hermes
himself transported me here just as soon as you called!"

"Really?"

"Oh, my, yes," the priest said. "Just as soon as ever. Yes. Hm. And you
can believe me when I tell you--believe me, Your Concupiscence--take my
word when I tell you--"

"Yes?"

"Hermes," the priest said. "Hermes doesn't often take such an
interest--I may say such a _personal_ interest--in a mortal, I'll tell
you. And you can believe me when I do tell you that. I do."

"I'm sure," the High Priestess said.

"Yes," the priest said, waving his caduceus gently. He blinked. "Where's
the patient? The mortal?"

"He's over here," the High Priestess said, motioning to Forrester
sitting awestruck on the couch. Priests of Hermes were common enough
sights--but a priest like this was something new and strange in his
experience.

"Ah," the priest said, twinkling at him. "So there you are, eh? Over
there? You _are_ sitting over _there_, aren't you?"

"That's right," Forrester said blankly.

"Now listen to me carefully," the High Priestess said. "You're not
to ask his name, or mention anything about this visit to
anyone--understand?"

The priest blinked. "Oh, certainly. Absolutely.