The Earthmen fell silent, waiting.
"We think we have your runaway." He turned to the door. "Bring her in."
Two more sheriffs entered, and between them, there was a young, slender
girl. Her face was gaunt and tear-stained. Her body trembled. She looked
at the Madame fearfully.
"You idiots!" Miss Bestris screamed. "Get her out of here! You'll ruin
my party! Take her out!"
The two men removed the girl. To the remaining sheriff, Miss Bestris
said, "Damn you, if you ever do anything like that again, I'll ...
I'll...."
"I'm sorry, Madame. But we wanted immediate identification. Would you
want us to hold the wrong girl?"
"That's her, all right! Now, get out! Wait for me in my office."
When they were gone Miss Bestris turned to the silent room. In quite
passable Esperanto she said, "I--am sorry. A misunderstanding. I assure
you, nothing. Go on with the party, and I'll see what I can do for the
poor girl."
She stood up and in her own language said, "Lively, girls! Smile! You,
Rita, hurry and serve tea!"
She made her exit.
The spacemen grumbled among themselves, coughed uneasily, watched the
closed door through which the Madame had gone. Listening, they could
hear only a muted mumble of sing-song sounds in several voices.
With determined animation, the girls moved about, smiled, chatted.
Rita came in, wheeling the tea tray, and the girls converged on it, each
trying to be the first to serve her escort. The tea was the Martian
stuff, concocted of a kind of local hemp. The Earthmen found it harsh
and bitter to the taste, but gentle on the soul.
Anne had filled two cups and returned to the second mate when she caught
sight of Mary coming down the stairs.
On the lowest step, Mary stood for a long time; her eyes eagerly
searched the crowd. Slowly a puzzled, hurt look came over her face.
June came to her side after a little while.
"Isn't he here?"
"No. Not yet."
"I'm sorry," June said, touching Mary's arm lightly.
"It's all right. It's early yet. I'll just sit down by Miss Bestris'
chair and wait for him."
She turned from June and went to the chair. Before she could sit down, a
space corporal came over, bowed, tried to take her hand. She shook her
head. He smiled twistedly and walked stiffly away.
Another man smiled at her. She shook her head slowly.
Someone came in the front door, and she leaned forward. Then she slumped
back limply.
She heard a tinkly laugh. She looked in its direction. She met Anne's
eyes, bright and amused. Just then Miss Bestris came in, her eyes angry
and her cheeks flushed. She strode across the room.
"Well," she said. "I'm glad to see you finally came down." She sank
heavily into her chair. "Cresent's back. They just brought her in. The
idiots came right in here with her. I'll bet I lost half-a-dozen
customers. These Earthmen are sensitive about such things."
Mary was still staring at the door; Miss Bestris looked down at her.
"Well, what are you sitting here for?"
"Please, Miss Bestris. I'm waiting for my special boy friend tonight."