being used as the pawn. Well, that worked both ways. In a fair
bargain both sides receive satisfaction. I felt a little easier about my
tactical maneuvers.

But the development of rivalry between factions of the audience gave me
an additional idea. Perhaps that's what the Swami really needed, a
little rivalry. Perhaps he was being a little too hard to crack because
he knew he was the only egg in the basket.

I called Old Stone Face and told him what I planned. He responded that
it was up to me. He'd stepped in and got things under way for me, got
things going, now it was my job to keep them going. It looked as if he
were edging out from under--or maybe he really believed that.

Before I settled into the day's regular routine, I wired General
Sanfordwaithe, and told him that if he had any more prospects ready
would he please ship me one at once, via air mail, special delivery.

* * * * *

The recital hall, hired for the Swami's Los Angeles debut, was large
enough to accommodate all the family friends and relatives of any little
Maribel who, having mastered "Daffodils In May," for four fingers, was
being given to the World. It had the usual small stage equipped with
pull-back curtains to give a dramatic flourish, or to shut off from view
the effects of any sudden nervous catastrophe brought about by stage
fright.

I got there, purposely a little late, in hopes the house lights would
already be dimmed and everything in progress; but about a hundred and
fifty people were milling around outside on the walk and in the
corridors. Both factions had really been busy.

Most of them were women, but, to my intense relief, there were a few
men. Some of these were only husbands, but a few of the men wore a look
which said they'd been far away for a long time. Somehow I got the
impression that instead of looking into a crystal ball, they would be
more inclined to look out of one.

It was a little disconcerting to realize that no one noticed me, or
seemed to think I was any different from anybody else. I supposed I
should be thankful that I wasn't attracting any attention. I saw my
interviewer amid a group of Older Girls. She winked at me roguishly, and
patted her heavy handbag significantly. As per instructions, she was
carrying a couple of the Auerbach cylinders.

I found myself staring in perplexity for a full minute at another woman,
before I realized it was Annie. I had never seen her befor