O'Graeme shook his head slowly. "I've tried this stuff often, Mr. Dineen, and I'm used to it, but I see that you--Perhaps I'd better come back tomorrow evening instead of--" "And lose a whole day?" I scoffed. "Why, we'll be rich by then. Come on, palsy. Let's go back and join Fleming Ames' dinner party. I want you to meet Margie Ames. The old folks don't know it yet, but Margie and I are engaged. Besides," I added with a sly grin, winking at him, "there is a tank full of mermaids back there that'll knock your eyes out. It cost a fortune to have them brought in from Mercury." I took O'Graeme by the arm and propelled him out into the long corridor. The Polaroid glass walls of the huge building looked down upon the great City of Mars with its network of shuttle-car tubes, the 'copter landings and--We passed a section of wall that opened onto the sky parkway and a draft of cold fresh air hit me. I stopped suddenly. "Whew!" I said, closing my eyes and then opening them again slowly. "Say, I've been talking like a--Will you please forget everything I've said?" The little guy grinned. "I discounted it. I've been there myself. The first time I tried it--on my way back to Mars--I put three drops in _water_, and I radioed on ahead to tell them that I was buying the whole fleet of Interplanetary, and to get me an option on--" "Listen," I cut in soberly. "I _will_ take you back to Mr. Ames, though, dinner party or not. Unless he objects because it's too potent, I'm sure he'll be interested if we demonstrate. What's a safe dose--nothing like the one I just had?" "One drop, if it's a large room. Mild exhilaration and release from care. You had about the equivalent of two drops in water; delusions of grandeur, if you'll pardon my--" "Sure," I grinned. We'd been walking and were almost back to the big drawing-room where Fleming Ames would be entertaining his dinner guests. "What happens if you use--not that I'm suggesting it--four or five drops?" "Partial dissociation of personality, and with six or seven drops, you might find yourself in the body of whoever happens to be in the room with--" His voice trailed off absently and his green-tinted eyes actually popped as we stepped through the doorway. He gulped. "You--you really _meant_ that about--" "The mermaids?" I laughed as he fumbled in his pocket and brought out the vial to make sure the stopper was on tight. "Sure. You needn't have discounted _that_, my friend!" * * * * * I led him to the glowing, plexiglass tank in the center of the room. It was a drum-like affair, about five feet high and eight in diameter; complete with bright green sea weed and a glittering red cave-like shelter of Mercurian coral.