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r cubicle upstairs. I cannot take
care of you in this."
"Would you care for her," asked the wizard, "if you had a house?"
"Of course I...hey, what's the idea? One of those little houses for kept
women, over beyond Temple Hill? She's your little mistress, when you care
to come by, and I'm Marin's maid? We visit with the other little pets, and keep
out of the way when their fat-bellied friends come calling? I've had offers of
*that* more than once in this hotel, and I'd rather sweep floors for ever."
"Your imagination paints vivid pictures, Birgit, but I would never think
of you or Marin's in that one. There is a picture, though, that you had Marin's in
already. On Bell Street, I think, the family Warend is trying to sell a linen
and wool shop."
"On Bell Street? That must be---they can't be selling *that*
place---it's..."
"They have had a shipwreck, and they must make choices. This choice is
yours. Do you want that shop?"
"But surely that would cost, oh, I don't know, you can't be giving *that*
just for getting into Ania's pants."
"I wasn't wearing any."
"And I am not giving anything for that. It was a gift between us.
Such a shop would satisfy you as lore satisfies me, you would serve the people
of this city, and you coul
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