"James White - Custom Fitting" - читать интересную книгу автора (White James)

switched on the heaters. I should have thought of that; it was very remiss of me. But His Excellency does
not want to wear his native clothing for very good reasons, so he thought it better to suffer a little
discomfort rather than to take the risk of your being influenced, even unconsciously, by his native dress. It
is most important that he wear clothing which is made and styled on Earth."

From center line back to foreleg knee joint, 42 inches, Hewlitt wrote. To Fox he said, "The requirement
is for a blanket-like garment, but surely my client will require additional clothing if he is to feelтАФ"

"Just the blanket, Mr. Hewlitt."

"If the positions were reversed," said Hewlitt patiently, "you would no doubt feel reasonably warm in a
blanket; but you would feel much more comfortable if you were wearing shorts as well."

Irritably, Fox said, "Please follow instructions, Hewlitt. Your fee will be generous, regardless of how
many or how few garments you make for His Excellency. Your attempts to drum up extra business is a
waste of your time and ours."

"The majority of civilized people on Earth wear undergarments," said Hewlitt, "and unless climatic
conditions, religious beliefs, or the dictates of local fashion rule otherwise, I should think that the same
applies on other worlds."

"You are being argumentative, uncooperative, and you are introducing unnecessary complications into
what is a very simple set of instructions," said Fox angrily. "Let me remind you that we can still go across
the street!"

"Please do so," said Hewlitt.

Fox and Hewlitt glared at each other for several seconds while the alien, his features unreadable by virtue
of their complete alienness, turned his outside brown eyes on each of them in turn.

Suddenly a soft, gobbling noise issued from one of the fleshy slits in his face and, simultaneously and
much louder, a pleasant baritone voice spoke from the ornament suspended from the alien's neck. It said,
"Perhaps I can resolve this difficulty, gentlemen. It seems to me that Mr. Hewlitt has displayed qualities of
observation, good sense, and concern for the comfort of his customer, myself. Therefore, I would prefer
him to continue to act as my tailor providing he is willing to do so."

Fox swallowed, then said weakly, "Security, Your Excellency. We agreed that you would not speak to
any member of the public until...the day."

"My apologies, Mr. Fox," the alien replied through his translation device, "but on my world a specialist
like Mr. Hewlitt is considered something more than a member of the public."

Turning to Hewlitt, he went on, "I would be most grateful if you could give the matter of my underwear
your attention. However, for reasons which Mr. Fox would prefer to remain secret for the present, this
garment must also be of Earth material and styling. Is this possible?"

Hewlitt bowed slightly and said, "Of course, sir."

"Not sir!" said Fox, obviously angered because his instructions had been ignored by the alien. "This is His
Excellency the Lord Scrennagle of DuthaтАФ"