The lecture had gone much longer than he anticipated. “Did you enjoy my lecture?” asked the reverend, appearing suddenly at his side. He admitted it was all very interesting but it was not a philosophy he could personally adopt. The siren songstress joined them. “Have you met Miss Morningstar?” said the reverend, sensing some negativity. The doctor was delighted to make the young woman’s acquaintance and watched her dance around the dining table, heaping food on her plate. Quite a few of the guests began to drift away. He found a quiet spot on a window seat in the dining room and was soon joined by the singing siren. “You’re a friend of the Countess’s?” she said, sitting alongside him. He nodded. She could breathe, talk and chew at the same time and did most of the talking which suited him because most of the time his mouth was full and he was not blessed with the same tripartite talent. She had been with the troupe four years. She was nineteen years of age but looked much, much younger.
