"Since we're going to be so chummy," she replied; "you might begin by calling me Joan. You make me feel downright ancient." "Well then," he said. "In the first place, I just killed that baby-faced gunman your boss had in his office." "_Awk!_" said Joan, choking on the Latonka. "It was self-defense," he hastened to assure her. "He took a pot shot at me with that poisoned dart gun." "But the police!" she cried, as she caught her breath. "There'll never be an investigation. Albert Peet will see to that. I was called here on what I supposed was a legitimate revolution. Instead I was offered ten thousand Earth notes to assassinate the leader of the revolution." "What revolution? I'm going around in circles." "The Mercurians, of course." "I don't believe it," said the girl. "The Mercurians are the most peaceable people in the Universe. They've been agitating for freedom, yes. But they believe in passive resistance. I don't believe you could induce a Mercurian to kill, even in self-protection. That's why Albert Peet and the rest of the combine had such an easy time gaining control of the Latonka trade." "Score one," breathed Jaro, "I begin to see light. Miss Webb--ah, Joan--I've a notion that we're going to be a great team. How do you happen to be Albert Peet's private secretary?" "A gal's gotta eat. But the truth is, I was quitting. The Latonka Trust is almost on the rocks. Their stock has been dropping like a meteor." Jaro Moynahan raised his oblique brows but did not interrupt. "Albert Peet," she continued, "has been trying to sell out but nobody will touch the stock, not since it looks as if the Earth Congress is going to grant the Mercurians their freedom. Everybody knows that the first thing the Mercurians will do, will be to boot out the Latonka Trust." "What about this Karfial Hodes?" said Jaro. "I've heard that he's inciting the Mercurians to rebellion. The newscaster had a line about the revolution too. The government has advised all Terrestrials to return to Earth." "It's not true," Joan flared. "It's all a pack of lies invented by the Latonka Trust. I know." "But I should think rumors like that would run down the Latonka stock." * * * * * Joan shook her head. "It doesn't add up, I know. But Karfial Hodes is a real patriot. He wouldn't advocate a bloody revolution. That's not his way." They both sipped their wine. Joan's eyes were narrowed thoughtfully but Jaro's features were impassive. "Well," he said at last, "I wouldn't give a Venusian kapek for Karfial Hodes' life right now." "Why?" Jaro shrugged. "They wanted me to find him and kill him. Stanley, that little rattlesnake, is captured by Hodes' men and escapes, then Albert Peet doesn't need me anymore. What would you say?" The girl's eyes widened. "They know where he is?" "Exactly." "But he's such a gentle old man. Surely they wouldn't murder him."