"A requiem toast."
"This," chuckled Don Channing, "is one mess that Walt will have to get out of himself."
"Mess is it?" demanded Arden with a glint in her eye. "Come, husband, I would have words with thee."
Don reached in his hip pocket. "Here," he said, "just take my checkbook."
"I'd rather have words with you."
Don shook his head. "If I just give you the checkbook, you'll use it reasonably sparing, all things feminine considered. But gawd help the balance once you get to talking me into writing the check myself. Besides, we're about to hear from the Thomas boys again. They're about to land at Canalopsis."
"I'll wait," said Arden, settling on a tall stool and lighting a cigarette.
It took about ten minutes, and then Freddie Thomas's voice came from the speaker, loud and clear. "Well, we've landed. We're here. And where are you?"
"Hang on, Freddie," replied Farrell. "And we've some news for you. Walt Franks and Christine Baler have just committed matrimony."
"That's fine—What? Who? When?"