“Our plan will be ruined.”
“I don’t know.”
Stendahl glanced in at the whirling yellow and blue and orange people.
The music swept through the misting halls.
“I should have guessed Garrett wouldn’t be fool enough to come in person.
But wait!”
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.
There’s nothing the matter.
Garrett sent a robot to us.
Well, we sent one back.
Unless he checks closely, he won’t notice the switch.”
“Of course!”
“Next time he’ll come himself.
Now that he thinks it’s safe.
Why, he might be at the door any minute, in person!
More wine, Pikes!”
The great bell rang.
“There he is now, I’ll bet you.
Go let Mr. Garrett in.”
Rapunzel let down her golden hair.
“Mr. Stendahl?”
“Mr. Garrett. The real Mr. Garrett?”
“The same.”
Garrett eyed the dank walls and the whirling people.
“I thought I’d better come see for myself.
You can’t depend on robots.
Other people’s robots, especially.
I also took the precaution of summoning the Dismantlers.
They’ll be here in one hour to knock the props out from under this horrible place.”
Stendahl bowed.
“Thanks for telling me.”
He waved his hand.
“In the meantime, you might as well enjoy this.
A little wine?”
“No, thank you.
What’s going on?
How low can a man sink?”
“See for yourself, Mr. Garrett.”
“Murder,” said Garrett.
“Murder most foul,” said Stendahl.
A woman screamed. Miss Pope ran up, her face the color of a cheese.
“The most horrid thing just happened!
I saw Miss Blunt strangled by an ape and stuffed up a chimney!”
They looked and saw the long yellow hair trailing down from the flue.
Garrett cried out.
“Horrid!” sobbed Miss Pope, and then ceased crying.
She blinked and turned. “Miss Blunt!”
“Yes,” said Miss Blunt, standing there.
“But I just saw you crammed up the flue!”