Drene twisted the automatic, rose and continued to twirl it,considering. Presently he began to pace the floor, no longernoticing the other man. 0nce his promenade brought him up facing thewall where a calendar hung.

He stood for a while looking at it absently. After a few moments hestepped nearer, detached the sheet for the present fortnight, then oneby one tore off the remaining sheets until he came to the fortnightmarked December, Graylock watching him all the while.

"I think it happened on Christmas," remarked Drene turning towardthe other and laying a finger on the number 25 printed in white.