He moved about the apartment feeling somewhat delicately unbalanced, furtively exploring all the pneumatic recesses of his new self while singing softly in that delectable voice of watered silk. The girl's eyes did not work quite so well as his other ones although they did make everything seem soft and colorful; but his hearing was much more acute (something he had long suspected as being true of all women). The ultimate thrill came as he inspected his new wardrobe. The Old Boy had certainly not lacked for imagination. The closets were so full of clothing that it was difficult to re- move anything without pushing the neighboring garments roughly as- ide to free it. He could not, for instance, take down and inspect a fringed cocktail dress without pushing back lace and satin form- als on the one hand and a shower of chiffon and brocade on the other; he found it hard to slip a mink off its hanger before disen- gaging it from the crowded clutch of the sables and ermines.

Jewelry was distinguished by color and lustre--value was hardly at issue. The sapphire was bluer, the jade cooler, the diamond more brilliant.

A complete corner of the bedroom was given over to lingerie. Not only did the intricately carved dressers and boudoir chests contain a dozen of each possible style of panties, but a dozen of each possible color in each style and every pair was matched and intermatched to the rest of the wardrobe. Closets hung with bou- quets of petticoats. Splendid examples of corsetry crammed endless rows of satin lined drawers. Only one rather large chest remained at last to be looked into. The young man waited until he was dress- ed in a sheath that caressed his every movement and proclaimed those movements with a silken sibilance--and then he looked. The chest was stacked right to the top with banknotes of excellent character and inspiring denomination. A note reposed with them. I hope (it read) you like everything. Here's a little extra as I know you "girls" just love to shop. Yours, warmly,--and there was a small singed spot at the bottom of the note.

The young man sat at his dressing table crossing and uncross- ing the sleek silken lengths of his legs and feeling his breasts strain at the fluffily firm confines of his bra; feeling secure in the grip of tightly stretched satin, warmed by the sleek kiss of nylon and silk.

There was one slight--oh, very very slight!--matter to be attended to before complete and enduring happiness might reign.

17.