The last of the six stairways straightforwardly ascended beneath a huge royal paulownia.

Before we ascended, there was no small debate on the identification of the tree. I said southern catalpa; Poison Pie said royal paulownia, said his dad, Piecewise Pie, had told him all about their importation and naturalization into the States. Of course, I didn't believe him. We had to consult the handy field guides of Mr. Audubon, who assured us that, whatever else may be wrong with the world, Poison Pie was right in this regard.