15

So much of Rud's intimate life has to be told and discussed to make the picture of him complete, but beyond that there is hardly anything significant to tell. For the rest we can emulate Chubby's discretion. The significance of what has been told is its insignificance. One or two other feminine figures flicker on to the record, but they were mere passing incidents. There was the lady who professed to be able to induce dreamless sleep by mesmeric passes. She appeared, dark, handsome and impressive, betraying a beautiful blue–veined marble throat, waving large white hands. From the outset Thirp distrusted her, he felt she might have the makings of a female Rasputin in the world autocracy; nevertheless, since it was in Thirp's scheme of things that Rud should continue to be concerned about his insomnia, she was given access to him. Something happened. She emerged from Rud's private apartments with a scared expression on her handsome face and nothing portentous left about her.

"Not a success," she said to Thirp, pushing past him. "Not at all a success."

Then Rud: "That disgusting woman! Never let me see her again."

Lady Susannah Shakespeare, that splendid golden blonde, the perfect woman, Flaming Susannah, Susannah the Terror of her Elders, as she was known among her intimates, was outstanding among those who would have conferred fatherhood upon the Master of the World. Her pursuit of Rud was open and shameless, and she fought her way at least to the presence of Thirp.

But Thirp was strangely discouraging.

She had met Thirp for the first time, and she found him antipathetic. He was so much more feminine in an elderly sort of way than herself. "You know," he said, "if you go on as you are doing, it might be felt you were making him a little ridiculous. None of us would like that, Lady Susannah. The Secret Police, I'm credibly informed, might not like it. Indeed, they might not. If you go on as you are doing.

"I think," said Thirp, in a tone of profound meditation, "I think you'd better not. I really think you'd better not. I think you'd better not even talk any more about your idea."

And it suddenly entered into the mind of the perfect woman that she had better not.