RANSVESTIA

interested in a male whom he took to be a female and practically ignored a real female standing near whom he took to be a male. It crossed my mind that it could be absolutely disastrous for me if he were to find out he'd been deceived. But as he spoke-officially to Alan but mostly looking at me-the threatening terrors began to disperse.

"We've now had more information from Benbrae and I can reassure you that you won't have to identify the body for we not only know who it is but we've had a murder confession as well!"

As he continued to speak it became clear that the body in my room was indeed that of the homosexual, murdered by the "friend" who shared his bedroom. They'd had an argument and he (the dead man) had stormed out of his room onto the balcony, seen me by the glare of the lightning and subsequently entered my room. The friend had followed him onto the balcony and although he hadn't seen me or entered my room he had smelled perfume on the air, concluded in disgust that he was being thrown over for a woman and in a fury had struck his partner down when he reappeared on my balcony. Horrible to think that while I was hastening round my bedroom collecting my clothes a man was being murdered just a few feet away. As the dead man had been found on my balcony and not actually inside my room there was no suspicion or police interest in me at all—the newspaper report was as accurate as so many such reports tend to be-and apart from details the case was already closed.

As soon as I heard the front door close behind the superintendent I felt the relief surge through me. The horrible threat which had been hanging over me was banished and I could unwind in happiness. As Alan came back I grabbed him and started to waltz round the room, both of us giggling in sheer delight. But after a minute or two he stopped and just watched me, his face puzzled as I danced on by myself, singing in happiness. And then, and there was excitement hidden in his voice, he said:

"I damnwell don't believe it! Of course you're not Keith! You can't possibly be! No man could ever look and move and act as you do! You must be a girl!"

I was completely taken aback for a minute, then did the only thing I could think of. I seized him in my arms and, standing on tiptoe to reach, kissed him fiercely.