"Yes, my dear. It isn't often that we are able to find just the infant our prospective parents have requested. But Fate has been good to you both. Recently, our agency was fortunate enough to receive a foundling infant boy. He's a perfect darling--just about a month old, blue eyes, blond hair, and an absolute charmer." Jane's husband, Dan, reached over to grip his wife's hand. "You really mean it, Mrs. Purdy?" "I certainly do. Naturally, you were one of the first couples I thought of when the baby was brought here. The poor little thing was abandoned on our very doorstep; it was like a gift from Heaven. Now, all we have to do is complete a few minor formalities--" Jane couldn't help herself. The tears started in her pretty green eyes, and she fumbled helplessly in her purse for her handkerchief. Dan got up and went to her. He put her head on his shoulder, and let her weep in happiness and relief. Mrs. Purdy watched them, her eyes tender. "Can we see him?" Dan asked. "Can we see our baby now, Mrs. Purdy?" "Of course. Come right this way." Jane dried her eyes, and they left the office together. But her tears began to flow again as they approached the crib on the second floor of the adoption agency. Her arms went out impulsively toward the child that lay in peaceful slumber on the sheet. "Oh, he's adorable!" Jane breathed. "Oh, Dan, he's just what we always wanted!" "How soon?" Dan said tightly. "How soon, Mrs. Purdy?" "Just a few days. We'll work as swiftly as we can, Mr. Bryan. In a few days, you can take your new baby home." The few days turned out to be a week. Then the phone rang in the Bryan household, and Mrs. Purdy's cheerful voice said: "Today's the day!" At five o'clock on a Monday afternoon, Jane Bryan carried her new son across the threshold of their apartment. * * * * * At two o'clock, the baby set up a hungry howl, and Dan Bryan stirred and sat up in bed. "Wake up," he said to his wife. "What is it?" "That damn thing is sure screaming its head off. I don't think I can wait. I think we ought to take care of it now." "But how can we?" his wife said. "It would look suspicious, wouldn't it?" "What if it does? We can move out of here tomorrow, see another part of the world." "But Lotha warned us to be careful--" "Lotha!" Dan Bryan said, his lips curled. "Why should we listen to anything _he_ says? We take our orders directly from Jeheera, not from a dirty Nahrlan traitor. I say tonight." "Whatever you say, dear," his wife answered. Mr. Gertz looked at the bedside clock, moaned, and punched his pillow angrily. "That lousy brat!" he said. "Why doesn't somebody shut him up?" His request was answered. With abrupt suddenness, the baby's pitiful cry ended. "There," Mrs. Gertz said comfortably. "I told you, Louie. The poor thing was only hungry. Now go to sleep." Mr. Gertz rolled over. He dozed off quickly, now that the night was still, and slept with the innocence of a babe.