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something more dramatic than mere vocal demonstration。
〃Won't you do something to CONVINCE them of your
powers； Leonard？〃 she pleaded； 〃change something into
another shape。 He can； you know； if he only chooses to；〃
she informed the company。
〃Oh； do；〃 said Mavis Pellington earnestly； and her
request was echoed by nearly everyone present。 Even
those who were not open to conviction were perfectly
willing to be entertained by an exhibition of amateur
conjuring。
Leonard felt that something tangible was expected of
him。
〃Has anyone present；〃 he asked； 〃got a three…penny
bit or some small object of no particular value …？〃
〃You're surely not going to make coins disappear； or
something primitive of that sort？〃 said Clovis
contemptuously。
〃I think it very unkind of you not to carry out my
suggestion of turning me into a wolf；〃 said Mary Hampton；
as she crossed over to the conservatory to give her
macaws their usual tribute from the dessert dishes。
〃I have already warned you of the danger of treating
these powers in a mocking spirit；〃 said Leonard solemnly。
〃I don't believe you can do it；〃 laughed Mary
provocatively from the conservatory； 〃I dare you to do it
if you can。 I defy you to turn me into a wolf。〃
As she said this she was lost to view behind a clump
of azaleas。
〃Mrs。 Hampton … 〃 began Leonard with increased
solemnity； but he got no further。 A breath of chill air
seemed to rush across the room； and at the same time the
macaws broke forth into ear…splitting screams。
〃What on earth is the matter with those confounded
birds； Mary？〃 exclaimed Colonel Hampton； at the same
moment an even more piercing scream from Mavis Pellington
stampeded the entire company from their seats。 In
various attitudes of helpless horror or instinctive
defence they confronted the evil…looking grey beast that
was peering at them from amid a setting of fern and
azalea。
Mrs。 Hoops was the first to recover from the general
chaos of fright and bewilderment。
〃Leonard！〃 she screamed shrilly to her nephew； 〃turn
it back into Mrs。 Hampton at once！ It may fly at us at
any moment。 Turn it back！〃
〃I … I don't know how to；〃 faltered Leonard； who
looked more scared and horrified than anyone。
〃What！〃 shouted Colonel Hampton； 〃you've taken the
abominable liberty of turning my wife into a wolf； and
now you stand there calmly and say you can't turn her
back again！〃
To do strict justice to Leonard； calmness was not a
distinguishing feature of his attitude at the moment。
〃I assure you I didn't turn Mrs。 Hampton into a
wolf； nothing was farther from my intentions；〃 he
protested。
〃Then where is she； and how came that animal into
the conservatory？〃 demanded the Colonel。
〃Of course we must accept your assurance that you
didn't turn Mrs。 Hampton into a wolf；〃 said Clovis
politely； 〃but you will agree that appearances are
against you。〃
〃Are we to have all these recriminations with that
beast standing there ready to tear us to pieces？〃 wailed
Mavis indignantly。
〃Lord Pabham； you know a good deal about wild beasts
… 〃 suggested Colonel Hampton。
〃The wild beasts that I have been accustomed to；〃
said Lord Pabham； 〃have come with proper credentials from
well…known dealers； or have been bred in my own
menagerie。 I've never before been confronted with an
animal that walks unconcernedly out of an azalea bush；
leaving a charming and popular hostess unaccounted for。
As far as one can judge from OUTWARD characteristics；〃 he
continued； 〃it has the appearance of a well…grown female
of the North American timber…wolf； a variety of the
common species CANIS LUPUS。〃
〃Oh； never mind its Latin name；〃 screamed Mavis； as
the beast came a step or two further into the room；
〃can't you entice it away with food； and shut it up where
it can't do any harm？〃
〃If it is really Mrs。 Hampton； who has just had a
very good dinner； I don't suppose food will appeal to it
very strongly；〃 said Clovis。
〃Leonard；〃 beseeched Mrs。 Hoops tearfully； 〃even if
this is none of your doing can't you use your great
powers to turn this dreadful beast into something
harmless before it bites us all … a rabbit or something？〃
〃I don't suppose Colonel Hampton would care to have
his wife turned into a succession of fancy animals as
though we were playing a round game with her；〃 interposed
Clovis。
〃I absolutely forbid it；〃 thundered the Colonel。
〃Most wolves that I've had anything to do with have
been inordinately fond of sugar；〃 said Lord Pabham； 〃if
you like I'll try the effect on this one。〃
He took a piece of sugar from the saucer of his
coffee cup and flung it to the expectant Louisa； who
snapped it in mid…air。 There was a sigh of relief from
the company； a wolf that ate sugar when it might at the
least have been employed in tearing macaws to pieces had
already shed some of its terrors。 The sigh deepened to a
gasp of thanks…giving when Lord Pabham decoyed the animal
out of the room by a pretended largesse of further sugar。
There was an instant rush to the vacated conservatory。
There was no trace of Mrs。 Hampton except the plate
containing the macaws' supper。
〃The door is locked on the inside！〃 exclaimed
Clovis； who had deftly turned the key as he affected to
test it。
Everyone turned towards Bilsiter。
〃If you haven't turned my wife into a wolf；〃 said
Colonel Hampton； 〃will you kindly explain where she has
disappeared to； since she obviously could not have gone
through a locked door？ I will not press you for an
explanation of how a North American timber…wolf suddenly
appeared in the conservatory； but I think I have some
right to inquire what has become of Mrs。 Hampton。〃
Bilsiter's reiterated disclaimer was met with a
general murmur of impatient disbelief。
〃I refuse to stay another hour under this roof；〃
declared Mavis Pellington。
〃If our hostess has really vanished out of human
form；〃 said Mrs。 Hoops； 〃none of the ladies of the party
can very well remain。 I absolutely decline to be
chaperoned by a wolf！〃
〃It's a she…wolf；〃 said Clovis soothingly。
The correct etiquette to be observed under the
unusual circumstances received no further elucidation。
The sudden entry of Mary Hampton deprived the discussion
of its immediate interest。
〃Some one has mesmerised me；〃 she exclaimed crossly；
〃I found myself in the game larder； of all places； being
fed with sugar by Lord Pabham。 I hate being mesmerised；
and the doctor has forbidden me to touch sugar。〃
The situation was explained to her； as far as it
permitted of anything that could be called explanation。
〃Then you REALLY did turn me into a wolf； Mr。
Bilsiter？〃 she exclaimed excitedly。
But Leonard had burned the boat in w