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artificiality, would cease to exist. Instead, our breeds would be allowed to return to what they were meant to be in the beginning—friends, companions, helpmates to man. Dogs would be bred for function rather than the need to conform to a pre-set standard. And they—and we—would be much the better for it.”
    Charles finally stopped speaking. No applause greeted the end of his speech. He didn’t seem to expect any.
    In this crowd, what he’d said was tantamount to heresy. If he hadn’t realized that in the beginning, he certainly had to know it now.
    After a moment, he stepped away from the podium and strode off the stage. Margo, already on her feet, turned and hurried after him.
    â€œThat was interesting,” I said.
    â€œInteresting, my foot,” Aunt Peg snorted. “Whatever else Charles hoped to accomplish, he’s just committed career suicide.”
    â€œHe probably doesn’t care,” Bertie said practically. “Considering that he just issued a call for the abolishment of dog shows.”
    â€œNobody will take him seriously on that score,” said Peg. “They couldn’t possibly.” She looked around the room. “Where’s Caroline? I imagine she’s about ready to kill him.”
    â€œShe slipped out five minutes ago.”
    â€œI don’t blame her. She probably didn’t want to listen to that drivel any more than the rest of us did.”
    â€œIt wasn’t entirely drivel,” I said. “He made a few good points.”
    Aunt Peg disagreed. “A well-reasoned call for reform would have been one thing. But asking us to align ourselves with the animal rights groups? Charles had to have known he was going much too far taking a stand like that.”
    â€œWhy do you think he did it?” I asked.
    Now that the show was over, the room was emptying quickly. We gathered up our things and prepared to leave.
    â€œI have no idea,” Aunt Peg replied. “It’s hard to imagine that Charles actually believes all those things he said. He’s been a highly respected judge, firmly embedded for years in the system he just thoroughly excoriated. So why the sudden turnaround?”
    â€œMaybe he needs new meds,” said Bertie.
    We both turned and looked at her.
    â€œJust a thought.”
    Under the circumstances, it wasn’t a bad one.
    Â 
    Sad to say that while Bertie and Aunt Peg went off to do fun and exciting things, I went upstairs and took a nap before dinner. When I rejoined them two hours later, Aunt Peg was holding court at a large corner table in the bar.
    I recognized most of the people she was seated with. Richard was there, along with his two buddies, Marshall and Derek. Bertie was sitting next to a woman I didn’t know and on the woman’s other side was Tubby Mathis, whom Aunt Peg had dismissed so firmly at the last gathering.
    I slid into an empty chair beside Bertie, and Richard immediately raised his hand and called for another round of drinks.
    â€œName your poison,” he said to me.
    â€œJust water, I’m afraid.”
    â€œWater?” Tubby lifted his head and looked at me balefully. His arms were cradled possessively around a tall whiskey and there were several empty glasses nearby. “You’ve come to the wrong place if all you want is water.”
    â€œI’d like some pleasant company too,” I said. “Presumably I might be able to find that here?”
    The woman I hadn’t met yet barked out a laugh. She reached a hand across in front of Bertie.
    â€œRosalyn Arnold,” she said. “You must be Melanie.”
    â€œDon’t tell me my reputation precedes me.”
    â€œI’m afraid so. Bertie’s been wondering where you were for the last half hour.”
    I sighed. “There seems to be a lot of that going around.”
    â€œWait a minute,” said Tubby. “Are you the gal they’ve been talking about? The one