8
THELMA LYON had just finished breakfast when the telephone rang. She got up from her chair; put down her napkin; looked at the telephone; then began to walk slowly towards it. Telephone calls might mean a lot or very little.
She picked up the instrument. A quiet and motherly voice spoke. It said: "Is that Mrs. Lyon? My name is Wellington—Mrs. Wellington. Perhaps you've heard of me. Perhaps you haven't. I'd better identify myself. I think I wrote you a long time ago. Do you remember? I was getting up a subscription in London for a special sort of aviary. You remember I was interested in birds belonging to the quail family. I told you I had an amusing collection."
Thelma said: "I see.... Perhaps you'd like to come along some time and talk about it. I think I might be interested."
"I'd
