RETURN OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNELL!  ATARU'S SECRET IS REVEALED!

PART 1

Shutaro Mendo sipped wine as he lay back on the couch in the piano
room, and noted the summer sun as it began to set.  He turned his
attention back to the book he was reading, The Scarlet Pimpernell.

But Darling, asked Roxanne, Why do you don the guise of the
Pimpernell?  Why do you not simply reveal yourself to those who need
your help?  The Pimpernell laughed, But of course I must keep my
identity a secret, dear Roxanne, that others might learn to rely upon
themselves and not upon me.  Darling, youre so wonderful! gushed
Roxanne.

Mendo closed the book and looked wistfully at the ceiling.  An idiotic
grin spread over his face as he contemplated himself in the role of the
Pimpernell.

But Darling, asked Lum, Why do you pretend to be merely superior,
when youre actually gifted beyond all belief?  Mendo laughed, But of
course I must keep my true nature a secret, dear Lum, lest others take
their own lives in despair at the sight of my magnificance.  Oh
Darling, gushed Lum, Youre so...so...so STUPID!!

Mendo woke with a start at the sound of Lums familiar cry of Darling,
youre so stupid!  He looked out past the balcony and saw her flying,
gloriously framed in the setting sun.  She was carrying a blackened
piece of charcoal which might once have been a human being, but was
probably Ataru.  Lum, why?  Why do you tolerate that idiot? cried
Mendo.  Lum looked at him with that cheerful, slightly empty-headed
smile of hers and said Because my Darling is so wonderful!  Then she
flew away.  And Mendo had another vision.

But Darling, asked Lum, Why do you pretend to be so stupid?  Why do
you not simply reveal yourself to thosewho need your help?  Ataru
laughed, But of course I must keep my true nature a secret, dear Lum,
that others might learn to depend upon themselves and not upon me. 
Also, Mendo might go into shock if he learned he was only second best,
and the poor guy tries so hard.  Darling, youre so wonderful!
gushed Lum.

Mendo made a sour face.  That idiot superior to me?  Ridiculous.  Of
course hes an idiot, and Im going to prove it.  Guards, bring me
Megane.

That evening, Megane faced Mendo over coffee.  He pushed his glasses
further up the  bridge of his nose and looked intently at Mendo.  You
want to prove that Ataru is an idiot?  Perhaps you should set higher
goals for yourself.  Prove the earth is round, for instance.  Dont
be sarcastic, growled Mendo.  What I want from you is information. 
Is it true that you have an uncle who does stage performances?  Megane
blinked.  You mean Mega-Megane the Great?  Yes, he does a traveling
hypnotist act.  Why?  Mendo smiled thinly.  Imagine, my dear Megane,
the normally idiotic Ataru being forced to behave in a manner so
unbelievably stupid that even Lum would finally see him for the fool he
is.  And Mendo imagined in his own mind the sight of Ataru barking
like a chicken while Lum looked into his eyes and said:  Shutaro, what
a fool I was for not noticing you sooner. Can you ever forgive me?

And Megane was having a vision of his own:  An obviously hypnotized
Ataru saying to Lum: 
I...am...not...good...enough...for...you...please...date...Megane. 
And Lum saying Okey-dokey! and leaping into Meganes arms.

The two looked at each other for a moment, then burst into sinister
laughter.  And from behind a curtain, Ryoko listened... 

end part 1