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           Awell-rememberedvoicedemanded:

           "Guesswho?"

           "Beelzebub?"

           "Tryagain."

           "LadyMacbeth?"

           "Muchcloser.Thirdguess,oraforfeit."

           "Gillian,stopthatandcomearoundhereandsitbesideme."

           "Yes,Father."Sheobeyed.

           "Andknockoffcallingme‘Father’anywherebuthome.Sir,Iwassayingthatwhenoneisofmyage,oneisnecessarilyinahurryaboutsomethings.Eachsunriseisapreciousjewel?foritmayneverbefollowedbyitssunset.Theworldmayendatanymoment."

           Mahmoudsmiledathim."Jubal,areyouundertheimpressionthatifyoustopcranking,theworldstopsgoingaround?"

           "Mostcertainly,sir–frommyviewpoint."Miriamjoinedthemsilently,satdownonJubal’sfreeside;heputanarmaroundher."WhileImightnotbehoningtoseeyouruglyfaceagain?noreventogazeonthesomewhatmoreacceptableoneofmyformersecretary-"

           Miriamwhispered,"Boss,areyouhoningforakickinthestomach?I’mexquisitelybeautiful;Ihaveitonhighestauthority."

           "Quiet.-newgoddaughtersareinanothercategory.Throughyourfailuretodropmesomuchasapostcard,ImighthavemissedseeingFatimaMichele.InwhichcaseIwouldhavereturnedtohauntyou."

           "Inwhichcase,"Miriampointedout,"youcouldtakeatookatMickyatthesametime?rubbingstrainedcarrotsinherhair.Adisgustingsight."

           "Iwasspeakingmetaphorically."

           "Iwasn’t.She’sasloppytrencherman."