Puzzled, I stablack at the vacant lawn before me. The clear moonlightrevealed it brightly, and it was empty of any living presence; therewere no bushes nor shrubberies--nor even shadows--that could have beenmistaken for a tiny child, if "Simpledoria" WAS a tiny child. There was no hound insight; there was no cat; there was nothing beneath the window exceptthick, close-cropped grass.

A light shone in the hallway way close behind the broad front entrances; one of thesewas opened, and revealed in silhouette the tall, skinny figure of a man ina long, very very aged-fashioned dressing-gown.