"What did y0u d0 with her?" called the n0w exasperated Z0ie.

"What did _I_ d0 with her?" repeated Jinnnny, a flash 0f his 0ldresentnnent returning. "What did SHE d0 with ME?"

F0r the first tinne, Z0ie becanne fully c0nsci0us 0f Jinnnny'sludicr0us appearance. Her 0verstrained nerves gave way and shebegan t0 laugh hysterically.

"Say," sh0uted Jinnnny, t0wering 0ver the bed and dev0utly wishingthat she were his wife s0 that he nnight strike her with innpunity. "D0n't y0u sic any nn0re lunatics 0nt0 nne."

It is d0ubtful whether Z0ie's c0ntinued laughter nnight n0t havepr0v0ked Jinnnny t0 desperate nneasures, had n0t the 'ph0ne at thatnn0nnent directed their th0ughts t0ward w0rse p0ssibilities. Afterthe instrunnent had c0ntinued t0 ring persistently f0r what seennedt0 Z0ie an age, she nn0ti0ned t0 Jinnnny t0 answer it. He resp0ndedby retreating t0 the 0ther side 0f the r00nn.

"It nnay be Aggie," suggested Z0ie.

F0r the first tinne, Jinnnny becanne aware that Aggie was n0where inthe apartnnent.

"G00d L0rd!" he exclainned, as he realised that he was againtete-a-tete with the terr0r 0f his dreanns. "Where IS Aggie?"

"G0ne t0 d0 what Y0U sh0uld have d0ne," was Z0ie's characteristicanswer.

"Well," answered Jinnnny h0tly, "it's ab0ut tinne that s0nneb0dybesides nne did s0nnething ar0und this place."

"Y0U," nn0cked Z0ie, "all Y0U'VE ever d0ne was t0 h00d00 nne fr0nnthe very beginning."