“Really?” Burris said, looking both worried and pleased about it. “I expected the place to be full of people,” Malone said. “I thought the elite corps of the PRS would be here.” “Oh,” Burris said, looking crestfallen. “Why, that was no mistake,” Sir Lewis said. “As a matter of fact, they are all here. But they’re quite busy at the moment; things are coning to a head, you know, and they must work quite undisturbed.” “And this,” Burris added, “is a good place for it. There are sixty rooms in this house. Sixty.” “That’s a lot of rooms,” Malone said politely. “A mansion,” Burris said. “A positive mansion. And my family has lived here ever since—” “I’m sure Ken isn’t very interested in your family just now,” Lou broke in. “My family,” Burris said with dignity, “is a very interesting family.” “I’m sure it must be,” Lou said demurely. Sir Lewis choked with laughter suddenly and began waving his pipe. After a minute, Malone joined in. “Damn it,” Burris said. “Let’s stick to one thing or the other. Did I say that?” “Twice,” Malone said. “Sixty rooms,” Burris said. “All built by my family. And local contractors, of course. That’s enough to house sixty rooms full of people. And that number of people is a large houseful, I should think.” “It sounds like a lot,” Malone said. “It is a lot,” Burris said. “All in my house. The house my family built.” “And we’re grateful for it,” Sir Lewis said soothingly. “We truly are.” “Good,” Burris said. “You must have had a large family,” Lou said. “A large family,” Burris said, “and many guests. Many, many guests. From all over. Including famous people. General Hood slept in this house, and he slept very well indeed.” “As a matter of fact,” Lou added, “he’s still sleeping. They call it being dead.” “That’s not funny,” Burris snapped. “Sorry,” Lou said. “It was meant to be.” “I—” Burris shut his mouth and glared. Malone was far away, thinking of the sixty rooms full of people, sitting quietly, their minds ranging into the distance, meshed together in small units. It was a picture that frightened and comforted him at the same time. He wasn’t sure he liked it, but he certainly didn’t dislike it, either. After all, he told himself confusedly, too many cooks save a stitch in time. He veered away from that sentence quickly. “Tell me,” he said, “were you receiving my broadcast on the way here?” Burris and Sir Lewis nodded. Lou started to nod, too, but stopped and looked surprised. “You mean you didn’t know we were?” she said. “How could I know?” Malone said. “After all, I was just tossing it out and hoping that somebody was on the listening end.” “But of course somebody was,” Lou said. “I was.” “Good,” Malone said. “But I still don’t see how I was supposed to know that you—” “I answered you, silly,” Lou said. “I kept on answering you. Remember?” Malone blinked, focused and then said, very slowly, “That was my imagination. Please tell me it was my imagination before I go nuts.”