Чужак в чужой стране

           Amanenteredtheroom,stoodwaitingbythesideofMrs.Douglas’desk;sheturnedandsawthatitwasJamesSanforth,thepressagentshehadsentfor.

           "HaveyouheardfromBerquist?"shedemandedwithoutpreamble.

           "Eh?Iwasn’thandlingthat;that’sMcCrary’spidgin."

           Shebrushedtheirrelevancyaside."You’vegottodiscredithimbeforehetalks."

           "Huh?YouthinkBerquisthassoldusout?"

           "Don’tbenaive.Youshouldhavecheckedwithmebeforeyouusedhim."

           "ButIdidn’t.ItwasMcCrary’sjob."

           "Youaresupposedtoknowwhatisgoingon.I-"MadameVesant’sfacecamebackonthescreen."Sitdownoverthere,"Mrs.DouglassaidtoSanforth."Wait."Sheturnedbacktothescreen."Alliedear,IwantfreshhoroscopesforJosephandmyself,justasquicklyasyoupossiblycancastthem."

           "Verywell."Theastrologerhesitated."Icanbeofmuchgreaterassistancetoyou,dear,ifyouwilltellmesomethingofthenatureoftheemergency."

           Mrs.Douglasdrummedonthedesk."Youdon’tactuallyhavetoknow,doyou?"

           "Ofcoursenot.Anyonepossessingthenecessaryrigoroustraining,mathematicalskill,andknowledgeofthestarscouldcalculateahoroscope,knowingnothingmorethantheexacthourandplaceofbirthofthesubject.Youknowthat,dear.Youcouldlearntodoityourself?ifyouweren’tsoterriblybusy.Butremember:thestarsinclinebuttheydonotcompel.Youenjoyfreewill.