Commissioner Tate came in through the door and slipped into the chair
she'd already vacated. Trigger took another seat a few feet away. She
felt a little nervous, but she'd always wanted to see a high-powered
diplomat in action.

The screen lit up. She recognized Roadgear from his pics. Tall,
fine-looking man of the silvered sideburns type. He was in an armchair
in a very plush office.

"Congratulations, Commissioner!" he said, smiling. "I believe you're
aware by now that your latest report has set many wheels spinning
rapidly!"

"I rather expected it would," the Commissioner admitted. He also smiled.

They pitched it back and forth a few times, very chummy. Roadgear didn't
appear to be involved in any specific way with the operations which soon
would center about Luscious. Trigger began to wonder what he was after.

"A few of us are rather curious to know," Roadgear said, "why you didn't
acknowledge the last Council Order sent you."

Trigger didn't quite start nervously.

"When was this?" asked the Commissioner.

Roadgear smiled softly and told him.

"Got a record here of some scrambled item that arrived about then," the
Commissioner said. "Very good of you to call me about it, Councilman.
What was the order content?"

"It's dated now, as it happens," Roadgear said. "Actually I'm calling
about another matter. The First Lady of Tranest appears to have been
very obliging about informing you of some of her recent activities."

The Commissioner nodded. "Yes, very obliging."

"And in so short a time after her, ah, detainment. You must have been
very persuasive?"

"Well," Holati Tate said, "no more than usually."

"Yes," said Councilman Roadgear. "Now there's been some slight concern
expressed by some members of the Council--well, let's say they'd just
like to be reassured that the amenities one observes in dealing with a
head of state actually are being observed in this case. I'm sure they
are, of course."

The Commissioner was silent a moment. "I was informed a while ago," he
said, "that full responsibility for this Head of State has been assigned
to my group. Is that correct?"

The Councilman reddened very slightly. "Quite," he said. "The official
Council Order should reach you in a day or so."

"Well, then," said the Commissioner, "I'll assure you and you can assure
the Councilmen who were feeling concerned that the amenities are being
observed. Then everybody can relax again. Is that all right?"