"It means 'welcome,' doesn't
it?"
"Welcome," he assented.
"Then Herbert and Esther can come in, can't they? They're waiting in the
car for me to be rejected in disgrace. They've even bet on it."
"They lose," answered Banneker with finality.
"And you forgive me for cajoling your big, black Cerberus, because it's
my first visit this year, and if I'm not nicely treated I'll never come
again."
"Your welcome includes full amnesty."
"Then if you'll let me have one of my hands back--it doesn't matter
which one, really--I'll signal the others to come in."
Which, accordingly, she did. Banneker greeted Esther Forbes and Cressey,
and waited for the trio until they came down. There was a stir as they
entered. There was usually a stir in any room which Io entered. She had
that quality of sending waves across the most placid of social pools.
Willis Enderby was one of the first to greet her, a quick irradiation of
pleasure relieving the austere beauty of his face.
"I thought the castle was closed," he wondered. "How did you cross the
inviolable barriers?"
"I had the magic password," smiled Io.
"Youth? Beauty? Or just audacity?"
"Your Honor is pleased to flatter," she returned, drooping her eyes at
him with a purposefully artificial effect.
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