Beasts and Super-Beasts | Page 3

into a wolf," said Clovis politely, "but you will agree that
appearances are against you."
"Are we to have all these recriminations with that beast standing there
ready to tear us to pieces?" wailed Mavis indignantly.
"Lord Pabham, you know a good deal about wild beasts--" suggested
Colonel Hampton.
"The wild beasts that I have been accustomed to," said Lord Pabham,
"have come with proper credentials from well-known dealers, or have
been bred in my own menagerie. I've never before been confronted
with an animal that walks unconcernedly out of an azalea bush, leaving
a charming and popular hostess unaccounted for. As far as one can
judge from outward characteristics," he continued, "it has the
appearance of a well-grown female of the North American timber-wolf,
a variety of the common species canis lupus."
"Oh, never mind its Latin name," screamed Mavis, as the beast came a
step or two further into the room; "can't you entice it away with food,
and shut it up where it can't do any harm?"
"If it is really Mrs. Hampton, who has just had a very good dinner, I
don't suppose food will appeal to it very strongly," said Clovis.
"Leonard," beseeched Mrs. Hoops tearfully, "even if this is none of
your doing can't you use your great powers to turn this dreadful beast
into something harmless before it bites us all--a rabbit or something?"
"I don't suppose Colonel Hampton would care to have his wife turned
into a succession of fancy animals as though we were playing a round
game with her," interposed Clovis.
"I absolutely forbid it," thundered the Colonel.
"Most wolves that I've had anything to do with have been inordinately
fond of sugar," said Lord Pabham; "if you like I'll try the effect on this
one."

He took a piece of sugar from the saucer of his coffee cup and flung it
to the expectant Louisa, who snapped it in mid-air. There was a sigh of
relief from the company; a wolf that ate sugar when it might at the least
have been employed in tearing macaws to pieces had already shed
some of its terrors. The sigh deepened to a gasp of thanks-giving when
Lord Pabham decoyed the animal out of the room by a pretended
largesse of further sugar. There was an instant rush to the vacated
conservatory. There was no trace of Mrs. Hampton except the plate
containing the macaws' supper.
"The door is locked on the inside!" exclaimed Clovis, who had deftly
turned the key as he affected to test it.
Everyone turned towards Bilsiter.
"If you haven't turned my wife into a wolf," said Colonel Hampton,
"will you kindly explain where she has disappeared to, since she
obviously could not have gone through a locked door? I will not press
you for an explanation of how a North American timber-wolf suddenly
appeared in the conservatory, but I think I have some right to inquire
what has become of Mrs. Hampton."
Bilsiter's reiterated disclaimer was met with a general murmur of
impatient disbelief.
"I refuse to stay another hour under this roof," declared Mavis
Pellington.
"If our hostess has really vanished out of human form," said Mrs.
Hoops, "none of the ladies of the party can very well remain. I
absolutely decline to be chaperoned by a wolf!"
"It's a she-wolf," said Clovis soothingly.
The correct etiquette to be observed under the unusual circumstances
received no further elucidation. The sudden entry of Mary Hampton
deprived the discussion of its immediate interest.

"Some one has mesmerised me," she exclaimed crossly; "I found
myself in the game larder, of all places, being fed with sugar by Lord
Pabham. I hate being mesmerised, and the doctor has forbidden me to
touch sugar."
The situation was explained to her, as far as it permitted of anything
that could be called explanation.
"Then you really did turn me into a wolf, Mr. Bilsiter?" she exclaimed
excitedly.
But Leonard had burned the boat in which he might now have
embarked on a sea of glory. He could only shake his head feebly.
"It was I who took that liberty," said Clovis; "you see, I happen to have
lived for a couple of years in North-Eastern Russia, and I have more
than a tourist's acquaintance with the magic craft of that region. One
does not care to speak about these strange powers, but once in a way,
when one hears a lot of nonsense being talked about them, one is
tempted to show what Siberian magic can accomplish in the hands of
someone who really understands it. I yielded to that temptation. May I
have some brandy? the effort has left me rather faint."
If Leonard Bilsiter could at that moment have transformed Clovis into a
cockroach and then have stepped on him he would