"Well ..." he said at last. "I suppose. It would have to be the same show both times, though ..."

"Splendid!" said the vicar. "What's it to be, then ... the program, that is?"

"Open with a short musical piece," Rupert said. "It's a new one I've been working up. No one's seen it yet, so this would be a good chance to try it out. Then Jack and the Beanstalk. They always clamor for Jack and the Beanstalk, young and old alike. Classic fare. Very popular."

"Smashing!" the vicar said. He pulled a folded sheet of paper and the nub of a pencil from an inner pocket and scribbled a few notes.

"How's this?" he asked, with a final flourish, then, with a pleased look on his face, read aloud what he had written:"Direct from London!

"I hope you'll forgive the small fib and the exclamation point," he whispered to Nialla."Porson's Puppets

"(Operated by the acclaimed Rupert Porson. As seen on the BBC Television)"Program"I. A Musical Interlude

"II. Jack and the Beanstalk(The former being presented for the first time on any stage; the latter declared to be universally popular with old and young alike.)

Saturday, July 22nd, 1950, at St. Tancred's Parish Hall, Bishop's Lacey.

Performances at 2:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. sharp!

"... Otherwise they'll just dawdle in," he added. "I'll have Cynthia dash off a sketch of a little jointed figure with strings to put at the top. She's an exceedingly talented artist, you know--not that she's had as many opportunities as she'd like to express herself--oh, dear, I fear I'm rambling. I'd best away to my telephonic duties."

And with that he was gone.

"Peculiar old duck," Rupert remarked.

"He's all right," I told him. "He leads rather a sad life."