<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> MAY-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998 <CASH> 25,758 <SECURITIES> 13,843 <RECEIVABLES> 4,113 <ALLOWANCES> (495) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 46,091 <PP&E> 19,536 <DEPRECIATION> (6,736) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 188,331 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 15,441 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,000 <OTHER-SE> 122,164 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 188,331 <SALES> 46,136 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 70,415 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 39,089 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 47,763 <INCOME-TAX> 18,563 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 29,200 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 29,200 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.93 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.93