Wheeler nodded and smiled. "That's Blue Book on this model. Take it or leave it. That's my top offer--cash." Raymond turned away. "Come, my faithful manservant," he said despondently. "Let us return to our dismal retreat, where I can get properly and thoroughly liquored up." * * * * * Raymond was tired and dejected. His face was lined and despair was in his eyes. He collapsed into his favorite chair and dispatched the android to the bar. Two highballs later an idea dashed itself to pieces in Raymond's brain. He jumped up, ran over to the Televisor, and placed a call to Allied-News-Facs. When the News-Facs android's plastic face appeared on the screen, Raymond said, "I want to place an ad in the For Sale or Swap section of the Four O'clock Edition." "Yes, sir. What do you desire to say?" Raymond frowned. "Just say this: Anyone desiring to take over the payments of one darling, efficient, well-mannered, handsome, unbearably conscientious android can purchase the equity extremely cheap at great sacrifice." "Is that all?" "Yes, for now. If that doesn't work, I'll call you back." He gave his address and televisor number and switched off. Raymond turned to his android and said, "I've reconsidered. Maybe psycho-electronic-therapy can really help--one of us." He glanced at his watch. It was eleven a. m. "Let's go." The android followed obediently and said, "This is extremely monotonous." * * * * * The door read: DR. FREDRICK MILLHOP, PRD Inside, the waiting room was jammed with human beings and assorted electronic, two-legged contrivances. Surprise halted Raymond half-way through the doorway, and he studied the crowd in disbelief. A beautiful female voice pierced the noisy confusion of human and unhuman voices: "Do you have an appointment, or are you human?" Raymond stared at the Receptionist-Android, with its fixed smile on its sculptured feminine face, and replied unhappily, "I had no idea I would need one." The Receptionist-Android smiled steadily. "Is this an emergency, or a disaster, or are you sober?" "Could be," Raymond replied, bewildered. "Yes." "If you desire to wait, perhaps the Doctor might see you, see you, see you. But I don't see why, see why, see why." Mumbling a hasty assent, Raymond retreated into an unoccupied corner, where he and his android waited. The other men and women in the room were a grim, haggard looking group. As for the other androids, Raymond refused to look at them; and he closed his ears to all sound. Noon came and passed, and the afternoon dragged. Raymond lost his feeling of impatience, and stood in the corner trance-like. Finally at two-thirty a tiny green light flashed in the Receptionist-Android's metallic bosom. "The doctor will see you now or never."