and jumpy but tried not to show it. "I
suppose you have," he said, adding, after a moment, "Sir."

"How did that robot manage to break out of his cell and get to the power
source on the ship in the first place?"

"He didn't break out," Jordan said slowly. "I let him out."

"I see," the chief said, nodding. "You let him out. I see. No doubt you
had your reasons."

"Yes, I did. Look--" Jordan wanted to explain, but he could not find the
words. It would have been different if the robots' messages had reached
Grismet; he would not have had to justify himself then. But they had
not, and he could not find a way to tell this cold old man of what he
had learned about the robots and their unity with men. "I did it because
it was the only decent thing to do."

"I see," the chief said. "You did it because you have a heart." He
leaned suddenly forward, both hands on his desk. "It's good for a man to
have a heart and be compassionate. He's not worth anything if he isn't.
But"--and he shook his finger at Jordan as he spoke--"that man is going
to be compassionate at his own expense, not at the expense of the
agency. Do you understand that?"

"I certainly do," Jordan answered, "but you have me wrong if you think
I'm here to make excuses or to apologize. Now, if you will get on with
my firing, sir, I'll go home and have my supper."

The chief looked at him for a long minute. "Don't you care about your
position in the agency?" he asked quietly.

"Sure I do," Jordan said almost roughly. "It's the work I wanted to do
all my life. But, as you said, what I did, I did at my own expense.
Look, sir, I don't like this any better than you do. Why don't you fire
me and let me go home? Your prisoner's safely locked up in the ship."

For answer the chief tossed him a stellogram. Jordan glanced at the
first few words and saw that it was from Galactic Headquarters on Earth.
He put it back on the desk without reading it through.

"I know that I must have kicked up a fuss. You don't have to spell it
out for me."

"Read it," the chief said impatiently.

Jordan took back the stellogram and examined it. It read.

To: Captain Lawrence Macrae Detection Agency, Grismet.

From: Prantal Aminopterin Delegate from Casseiopeia Chairman, Grismet
Peace Committee of the Galactic Senate.

Message: You are hereby notified that the committee by a vote of 17-0
has decided to rescind its order of January 18, 2214, directing the
disposa