the dust and grime on its surface.
“It’s the maid’s day off,” the Duchess said sharply,
noting my expression. ” Can’ t get decent work out of domes-
tics since they outlawed flogging!”
I have seldom heard such an obvious lie … about the
maid, I mean, not the flogging. The cobwebs, dust, and
litter which were prevalent everywhere could not have ac-
cumulated in a day … or in a year for that matter. The
shelves and cases throughout the room were jammed with
the tackiest collection of bric-a-brac and dustcatchers it had
ever been my misfortune to behold, and every dustcatcher
had caught its capacity and more. I had no idea why the
Duchess felt it necessary to imply she had servants when
she obviously had little regard for me, but there was no
point in letting her know I didn’t believe her.
“Yes. Well . . . Duchess, I’ve been trying to locate your
son, Aahz . . . mandius, and was hoping you might have
some information as to his whereabouts.”
“Aahzmandius? That wastrel?” Her narrow yellow eyes
seemed to glow angrily. “If I had any idea where he was,
do you think I’d be sitting here?”
“Wastrel?”
I was starting to wonder if we were talking about the
same Aahz.
“What would you call it?” she snapped. “He hasn’t sent
176 Robert Asprin
me a cent since he left school. That means he’s spending
so much on himself there’s nothing left to share with the
family that nurtured him and raised him and made him what
he is today. How does he expect me to maintain the lifestyle
expected of our family, much less keep up my investing,