Little devil? The devil, maybe? No, not Hamilton. Ted said, "No club meeting today? No garden, home, cooking, household management or knitting circle shindigs?" "Not a one." "Why don't we drive up the coast and eat out, tonight?" "I'd love to, Ted. But I really have to finish that petit point for Dora's anniversary. I shouldn't be sitting here now, without it." "You look very good without it. We could stop at _Sweeney's_." _Sweeney's_ had the finest sea food west of New Orleans. And the immortal Sweeney, himself, behind the bar. "Don't tempt me," Ann said, and rose. "Why don't you drive up the coast? You're restless." "Maybe I will," he said. He tried to make it sound like an accusation, but it came out a flat, dull statement. * * * * * After she'd gone into the house, he sat for a while, considering the blonde. He didn't even know her name, and still he.... Well, why should he know her name? There wasn't much of her visible now; she had the raised section of the chaise lounge turned his way. Hamilton was nowhere in sight. He rose, after awhile, and went along the walk to the garage. He climbed into the convertible, started the motor, and unhooked the top, pressing the button to lower it. Driving out into the sunlight, he reflected this was just pique; he wasn't going to enjoy it, alone. A man, he ruminated, might as well be single. He drove along the winding coast road above Ynez Junction and parked there, with the whole, curving, hilly coast line spread out below him. The water was blue and calm with just a fringe of white where it lapped the beach. It was a clear day, and he could see Venus plainly. He thought of last night and tried to make it a dream, a product of his wishful thinking, as were the dialogues with Hamilton. Sitting around, going simple, that's what he'd been doing. Talking squirrels and trysts on Venus and a quick trip to Mars. Punchy, that's all. The devil finds things for idle hands to.... No, it wasn't that; it was just day-dreaming. The devil had no part of this business. Nor had his idleness. A peeping-Tom, Hamilton might be, but no devil. * * * * * _"I think I can see," Peak thought! "Not much, but a dim mist. Lern, are you listening?"_ _"I'm listening. I guess Ha is working, all right. He's going to work on some others, too."_ _Peak outer-thought, "Have you considered our big problem, to keep Lust minor?"_ _"I believe I have it licked. It's an Earthian custom I've been studying, and it surely keeps its adherents in line. Lust wouldn't grow much under it."_ _"A custom?"_ _"Marriage of course. How do you feel about it?"_ _"It's--a desperate measure. It's a--"_ _"A desperate problem," Lern interposed. "True love can survive it, I'm sure. We don't want a repetition of the situation that forced us to kill Lust--and lose our bodies. Of course, yours is the final word."_