Gowru wrinkled his face in pleasure at the whisky and then assumed a properly doleful expression. "I see. In seventeen years you'll be unemployed." He added consolingly. "Maybe they'll give you a pension."
Rains' vision was growing a little fuzzy, but his intellectual goals had not changed. "It's not the pension," he said irritably. "I intend to save astronomy."
"It's not reasonable to be so obstinate when the heavens decree otherwise," declared Gowru. "You should cultivate an interest in other things. Girls are a nice hobby."
Rains muttered something about girls and Gowru interrupted.
"Good. We can start with girls and there's no telling where we'll end. I'm a guide and I can help in such matters. How many do you want?"
"I've only a normal—"
Again Gowru interrupted. "I was afraid of that—only a normal interest in girls. You should moderate your desires. I can't help you with so many." He shook his head sadly. "Let's get back to astronomy."
"I expect to," said Rains coldly. "As I was saying, at Palomar we have the giant telescope—"
"The big inch," said Gowru fondly.