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. "Guests of the
House Henderson are most welcome in my house."
Gwen curtsied, I bowed, and so did Bill, after I dug a thumb into his
ribs-which Dr. Chan noticed while declining to notice it. I mumbled an
appropriate formality. Gretchen went on,
"We would like to sleep in your care tonight. Dr. Chan, if you will accept
us. If so, are we early enough to be given four places side by side?"
"Indeed yes... for your gracious mother spoke to me earlier. Your beds are
numbers four, three, two, and one."
"Oh, good! Thank you. Grandfather Chan."
So I paid, for three, not four-I don't know whether Gretchen paid, or ran a
bill, or what; I saw no money change hands. Five crowns per person per night, no
extra charge for the refresher but two crowns if we wanted to shower-water not
limited. Soap extra-half a crown.
Having completed business. Dr. Chan said, "Does not the tree in bonsai
require water?"
Almost in chorus we agreed that it did. Our host examined the plastic film
that enclosed it, then cut it open and most carefully removed the tree and pot.
A vase at his desk turned out to be a water carafe; he filled a tumbler, then,
using just his fingertips, he sprinkled it repeatedly. While he did this I
sneaked at look at his book-a form of snoopiness I can't resist. It was The
March of the Ten Thousand, in Greek.
We left Tree-San with him, and Gwen's case as well
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