the gabble of voices, even if he couldn't
understand what they were saying.

So far, there hadn't been a sound; if he was being followed, his tailers
weren't using the personal intercom units.

He didn't try to elude anyone who might be following. That, in itself,
would be a giveaway. Let them watch, if they _were_ watching. They
wouldn't see anything but a man going to get himself a bit of dinner.

The _Charles II Inn_, on Regent Street, near Piccadilly Circus, was a
haven of brightness in an otherwise Stygian London. It was one of those
"old-fashioned" places--Restoration style of decoration, carried out in
modern plastics. The oak panelling looked authentic enough, but it was
just a little too glossy to be real.

Houston pushed open the door, stepped inside, removed his hat and coat
and shook the dampness from them. As he handed them to the checker, he
looked casually around. Dorrine was nowhere in sight, but he hadn't
expected her to be. There would be no point in their meeting physically;
it might even be downright dangerous.

The headwaiter, clad in the long waistcoat and full trunk-hose of the
late Seventeenth Century, bowed punctiliously.

"You're alone, sir?"

"Alone, yes," Houston said. "I'll just be wanting a light supper and a
drink or two."

"This way, sir."

Houston followed the man to a small table in the rear of the huge dining
room. It was set for two, but the other place was quickly cleared away.
Houston ordered an Irish-and-soda from a waiter who was only slightly
less elaborately dressed than the headwaiter, and then settled himself
down to wait. If he knew Dorrine, she would be on time to the minute.

She came while the waiter was setting the drink on Houston's table. She
stepped in through the door, her unmistakable hair glowing a rich red in
the illumination of the pseudo-candlelight.

She didn't bother to look around; she knew he would be there.

After a single glance, Houston averted his eyes from her and looked back
at his drink.

And in that same instant, their minds touched.

_Dave, darling! I knew you'd be early!_

_Dorrine!_

And then their minds meshed for an instant.

_I_--_(we)_--_you_--LOVE--_you_--(each other)--me!--us!

* * * * *

Houston looked complacently at his drink while the headwaiter led
Dorrine to a table on the far side of the room. She sat down gracefully,
smiled at the waiter, and ordered a cocktail. Then she took a ma