“On a previous occasion,” said Cugel patiently, “you procured your cusp from a cabinet in that chamber yonder.”

“Silence!” commanded Lucounu in sudden annoyance. He hauled himself to his feet. “'SzszM I am well aware as to where the cusp is stored. All is completely coordinated! Follow me. We shall learn the essence of the Overworld at once!” He emitted a bray of immoderate laughter, at which Cugel stared in new astonishment.

Lucounu shuffled into the side-chamber and returned with the case containing his magic cusp. He made an imperious gesture to Cugel. “Stand exactly at this spot. Do not move, as you value Firx!”

Cugel bowed obediently. Lucounu took forth his cusp. “Now — the new object!”

Cugel tendered the glass cusp. “To your eyes, both together, that you may enjoy the full glory of the Over-world!”

“Yes! This is as it shall be!” Lucounu lifted the two cusps and applied them to his eyes. Cugel, expecting him to fall paralyzed by the discord, reached for the cord he had brought to tie the insensible savant; but Lucounu showed no signs of helplessness. He peered this way and that, chortling in a peculiar fashion. “Splendid! Superb! A vista of pure pleasure!” He removed the cusps and placed them carefully in the case. Cugel watched glumly.

“I am much pleased,” said Lucounu, making a sinuous gesture of hands and arms, which further bewildered Cugel. “Yes,” Lucounu continued, “you have done well, and the insensate wickedness of your offense is hereby remitted. Now all that remains is the delivery of my indispensable Firx, and to this end I must place you in a vat. You will be submerged in an appropriate liquid for approximately twenty-six hours, which may well suffice to tempt Firx forth.”

Cugel grimaced. How was one to reason with a magician not only droll and irascible, but also bereft? “Such an immersion might well affect me adversely,” he pointed out cautiously. “Far wiser to allow Firx a period of further perambulation.”

Lucounu seemed favorably impressed by the suggestion, and expressed his delight by means of an extremely intricate jig, which he performed with agility remarkable in a man of Lucounu's short limbs and somewhat corpu-lent body. He concluded the demonstration with a great leap into the air, alighting on his neck and shoulders, arms and legs waving like those of an overturned beetle. Cugel watched in fascination, wondering whether Lucounu was alive or dead.

But Lucounu, blinking somewhat, nimbly gained an upright posture. “I must perfect the exact pressures and thrusts,” he ruminated. “Otherwise there is impingement. The eluctauce here is of a different order than of ‘ssz-pntz.’” He emitted another great chortle, throwing back his head, and looking into the open mouth Cugel saw, rather than a tongue, a white claw. Instantly he apprehended the reason for Lucounu's bizarre conduct In some fashion a creature like Firx had inserted itself into Lucounu's body, and had taken possession of his brain.

Cugel rubbed his chin with interest. A situation of marvel! He applied himself to concentrated thought. Essential to know was whether the creature retained Lucounu's mastery of magic. Cugel said, “Your wisdom astounds mel I am filled with admiration! Have you added to your collection of thaumaturgical curios?”