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said the master. "Very true." He
sighed, gustily. "So, doubtless you've fallen heir to Fal Den's
debt-book, by which circumstance we find him once again to fail of
foolishness. Pray name the price of my transgression." He tipped
his head, apparently considering this. "I suppose it must have been
my transgression, though I'll own there's nothing in my book under
Fal Den's name. However, I'll bow to his judgment, for he was
nice--very nice--in his measurements."
    Pat Rin inclined his head and brought the
book from his inner pocket. Carefully, he opened to the proper
page--an early entry--and read out the recorded circumstances.
    "In the fourth relumma of the year called
Tofset, I misspoke in consultation with Master Tea Merchant Bed War
tel'Pyton. This misinformation was the direct cause of the master
ordering far too many tins of Morning Sunrise tea, which purchase
greatly reduced the profits of his business. This fault is mine,
and shall be Balanced at my earliest opportunity."
    Master tel'Pyton blinked.
    "Are you certain--I mean no
disrespect!--that this is the matter that lies between myself and
Fal Den? For I'll tell you, the incident was trivial when it
happened--the tea was stasis sealed for one matter, and for another
your cousin Er Thom was trading on port at the time and placed the
overbought handily, to his own profit and to mine."
    "This entry is the only time that your name
appears within the debt-book," Pat Rin said delicately. "Perhaps
there is another matter...?"
    "Not a bit of it," the tea merchant said
sturdily. Abruptly, he bowed, deep and excruciatingly proper. "Fal
Den leaves me in perfect harmony, sir, saving only in the matter of
his death itself, which cheats me of a friend and a valued
colleague. Pray tell his delm so, on my behalf, and write 'paid' to
the debt as recorded."
    Pat Rin also bowed, closing the battered
little book and slipping it away. "I will do so, sir," he said, and
added the phrase the Code demanded of those who held this
particular death-duty: "Balance has been served--and
preserved."
    * * *
    THE SECOND YOUNG gentleman of leisure spent
his day profitably in the City, meeting with certain of his
business associates, of whom every one was delighted to learn of
the increase in the young gentleman's estate. He was pleased to
learn, at a certain, of course impeccable, clerical service that
his invitations had been dispatched in accordance with his very
explicit instructions. Later in the day, he dined with friends,
after which he accompanied them to an exclusive club as their
guest, where his luck held at cards and he lost only a very little
at dice.
    * * *
    "AND HOW DID you find Little Festival this
year, boy-dear? A tedious bore, or a grand adventure?" Luken
refilled their glasses from a bottle of Ongit's superlative
red.
    Pat Rin tipped his head, considering. From
anyone else, the question might have been intended as a barb. From
one's foster father, it surely sprang from a filial interest in
himself--and gave one pause. Luken bel'Tarda was not a great
intellect, but his melant'i was spotless, and he possessed a sweet,
sure subtlety that Pat Rin found he treasured more deeply as the
years passed. It behooved one, always, to give serious
consideration to Luken's questions.
    So: "I found Little Festival to be
...largely agreeable," Pat Rin said, slowly. "Though I will own to
some moments where one's mind wandered from the pure pursuit of
pleasure to matters of business. And of course, some bits were
nothing short of terrifying." He picked up his glass and swirled
the wine, idly, eyes on the movement of the dark red liquid. "Of
course, you've heard of Shan and Val Con's victory at the skimmer
field?"
    Luken grinned. "From the
newspaper and from your mother, too. She predicts a wastrel lifetime for
both, sinking ever further from Code and kin." He sipped his wine.
"No fear there, I think. Young Val Con tells me he's no intention of continuing along
the line of skimmers--too wearing by half!