The Chief, who had after all taken a First in Classics in Public School, corrected him. "What difference does it make-it is supposed to be a shade off-beat, if you know what I mean." Besides, I think it rather nice. I picked it myself.”

"I'm sure you did.”

The Chief scowled. "This little banter is getting us nowhere, 661, ah, Gloria. Now, then, you know what's to do? By Tuesday fortnight, you should be well-established. The whole affair hinges on whether you can crack into this discotheque establishment. From there, I should think the affair would be easy." Ian, Gloria thought otherwise to himself, herself. Might as well get used to that way of thinking now. He had spent the three weeks previous getting his mind retuned to this new pattern. It had been a strange bit, even for a master Double-Six.

"Well, then, best of luck, old thing. Tomorrow is as good a time as any. Good shooting, old-girl. Ta, ta." The Chief folded shut the mo- rocco folder with its starred cover. The last briefing was over.

Ian, Gloria rose and went back through the outer office. As she did so, there was a sharp whisper from Miss Pennythwaite. "661! What are you planning for this evening." Ha, she shrugged, and let out her breath slowly. "Oh, I really don't know. Perhaps do my nails a bit, you know." Miss Pennythwaite rose and walked around to him and put two slim wrists about his neck. "I should really like it if you could drop by a bit this evening. Say, seven-ish." Gloria shrugged and then said "Why not? Bye-ee.” Odd, girl that. Still, an invitation was an invita- tion-sort of a condemned man approach.

He was still puzzled about this situation when he rang the door of Miss Pennthwaite's flat that evening. On an impulse, he had changed clothes and was now wearing a very decollete little thing that displayed his newly acquired inches to best advantage. The door suddenly opened and there stood Miss Pennythwaite!

In the dim light, Gloria blinked at her companion's appearance. Miss Pennythwaite had discarded her glasses in favor of contact lenses, and the sheen of her eyes was quite evident, although it might be de- bated whether it was passion-or plate glass.

But, then, Gloria was more than a bit nonplussed. Whatever visions of nocturnal adventures he had quite evaporated as he looked at Miss

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