expression on Rick's face. He grinned. "You disappointed?
First of all, my knowledge of Camillion is not greater than yours. I've
never seen him in person, or had any reason to study him. Crime isn't
JANIG's business. Second, one expects to see a duck near water, or a
squirrel near a tree. Criminals are generally found near centers of
crime. They're not common in historic mansions, far from large
population centers, so one doesn't expect to find them there. My reasons
for not recognizing Camillion, without Allen's identification, are
exactly the same as yours."

"It's just that we expect you to know everything," Scotty said
half-seriously.

"Then I'm glad you're learning better. Joking aside, it's interesting
that Camillion should be here. It's even more interesting that his
sidekick is a crooked electronics engineer or scientist. When you add
flying stingarees to that combination, it totals up to something novel
in criminal ideas. But what?"

"We thought you might have an idea," Rick prodded.

"Yes and no," Steve said ambiguously. "What ideas do you have?"

Rick stared at him accusingly. "Are you holding out on us? Do you know
something we don't?"

"Not yet," Steve said, and grinned at their expressions. "I mean that
literally. I think I may possibly know something, but the evidence isn't
in yet. It's that computer run I mentioned. We should have the results
tomorrow."

"All right," Rick said. He knew better than to push Steve for more
information. The agent went in for speculation only when it served a
purpose. With only a hint of evidence, he avoided guessing until the
evidence had been checked out. "We figured out that the flying
stingarees probably are balloons," Rick reported, recapitulating their
conclusions of the previous evening.

Steve nodded approvingly. "Very good reasoning. Now connect up an
electronics crook, Camillion, and that peculiar antenna."

"The balloons carry radio equipment," Scotty said promptly. "The antenna
picks up their signals."

Steve nodded again. "That's reasonable. Now, why do the balloons carry
radio equipment? And why are they launched?"

"We're like a dog chasing his tail," Rick said with a grin. "We're not
getting anywhere, but we're covering plenty of ground."

"Maybe we are getting somewhere," Steve corrected. "You found something
today that may be the balloon payload. You also found out that people
from the mansion were interested in your activities, but didn't wa