f
elements may unite to form a stable compound."

* * * * *

After a short pause, the speaker went on:

"Since you are from the Earth and unaccustomed to bracelets, rings will
be substituted for them. The plain rings will take the place of your
Earthly wedding rings, the jeweled ones that of your engagement rings.
The only difference is that while we discard the plain bracelets, you
will continue to wear them. Have you men any objections to wearing the
rings during the ceremony? You may discard them later if you wish and
still keep the marriage valid."

"Not I! I'll wear mine all my life," responded Seaton earnestly, and
Crane expressed the same thought.

"There is only one more thing," added the Kofedix. "That is, about the
mental examination. Since it is not your custom, it is probable that the
justices would waive the ruling, especially since everyone must be
examined by a jury of his own or a superior rank, so that only one man,
my father alone, could examine you."

"Not in a thousand years!" replied Seaton emphatically. "I want to be
examined, and have Dorothy see the record. I don't care about having her
put through it, but I want her to know exactly the kind of a guy she is
getting."

Dorothy protested at this, but as all four were eager that they
themselves should be tested, the Karfedix was notified and Dunark
clamped sets of multiple electrodes, connected to a set of instruments,
upon the temples of his father, Dorothy, and Seaton. He pressed a lever,
and instantly Dorothy and Seaton read each other's minds to the minutest
detail, and each knew that the Karfedix was reading the minds of both.

After Margaret and Crane had been examined, the Karfedix expressed
himself as more than satisfied.

"You are all of the highest evolution and your minds are all untainted
by any base thoughts in your marriage. The First Cause will smile upon
your unions," he said solemnly.

"Let the robe-makers appear," the Karfedix ordered, and four women, hung
with spools of brilliantly-colored wire of incredible fineness and with
peculiar looms under their arms, entered the room and accompanied the
two girls to their apartment.

As soon as the room was empty save for the four men, Dunark said:

"While I was in Mardonale, I heard bits of conversation regarding an
immense military discovery possessed by Nalboon, besides the gas whose
deadly effects we felt. I could get no inkling of its natu