teresting to me now than it did at first."

"What's that?"

"Those two little old ladies I eased out of their rightful cabin."

Trigger looked at him. "What about them?"

"This about them. The Askab of Elfkund is, you might way, one of the
branch managers of the Ermetyne interests in the Hub. He is also a
hard-working heel in his own right. But he's not the right size to be
one of the people we're thinking about. Lyad is. He might have been
doing a job for her."

"Job?" she asked. She laughed. "Not with those odd little grannies?"

"We know the odd little grannies. They're the Askab's poisoners and
pretty slick at it. They were sizing you up while you were having that
little chat, doll. Probably not for a coffin this time. You were just
getting the equivalent of a pretty thorough medical check-up.
Presumably, though, for some sinister ultimate purpose."

"How do you know?" Trigger asked, very uncomfortably.

"One of those little suitcases in their cabin was a diagnostic recorder.
It would have been standing fairly close to the door while you were
there. If they didn't take your recordings out before I got there,
they're still inside. They're being watched and they know it. It seemed
like a good idea to keep the Askab feeling fairly nervous until we found
out whether those sweethearts of his had been parked next door to you on
purpose."

"Apparently they were," Trigger admitted. "Nice bunch of people!"

"Oh, they're not all bad. Lyad has her points. And old Belchik, for
example, isn't really a heel. He just had no ethics. Or morals. And
revolting habits. Anyway, all this brings up the matter of what we
should do with you now."

Trigger set her glass down on the table.

"Refill?" Quillan inquired. He reached for the iced crystal pitcher
between them.

"No," she said. "I just want to make a statement."

"State away." He refilled his own glass.

"For some reason," said Trigger, "I've been acting lately--the last two
days--in a remarkably stupid manner."

Quillan choked. He set his glass down hastily, reached over and patted
her hand. "Doll," he said, touched, "it's come to you! At last."

She scowled at him. "I don't usually act that way."

"That," said Quillan, "was what had me so baffled. According to the
Commissioner and others, you're as bright in the head as a diamond,
usually. And frankly--"

"I know it," Trigger said dangerously. "Don't rub it in!"

"I apologize," said Quillan. He patted her