She was Lady Alice Charwell, possessor of a name and title respected for more than eight hundred years. Of course the title was now one of courtesy only; there was no Duchy of Io since the cession of that satellite to the World Council. But once her father had been manor lord of the entire globe; in the _Almanach de Gotha_ her family name and crest still figured prominently. All of which had little to do with the fact that her eyes were blue as the morning mists of Venus, that her limbs were white and straight and supple, softly feminine despite the mannish slack and shirt ensemble she affected, that her hair was a seine of sunlight gold that snared Dan Mallory's heart and quickened his breath. He forced his voice to calmness. He said, "Lady Alice, don't you think it would be better if you were to go to bed? This--this staying up at night--" Her laughter was warm and delicious. "But, Lieutenant! Surely there's no harm in my reading myself to sleep?" "Not a bit," agreed Mallory. He bit his lip. "I might suggest, though, that unless you're reading a book in the Lower Venusian language, it would be easier to read if the book were right side up. And--" He walked past her, swiftly, stared at the book which, hastily thrust back into the bookcase, still jutted out beyond its fellows. "And you might find more interesting reading matter than a tactical survey of Ionian military resources." The girl's face was scarlet. She came to her feet indignantly. "Really, Lieutenant, you go too far! I don't see that it is any of your business." "Lady Alice," said Mallory pleadingly, "a state of war exists on Io. Strange things are happening aboard the _Libra_, things the exact nature of which I am not at liberty to explain. If you will try to forget, for a moment, that I am a space officer--just think of me as a man--will you allow me to make the suggestion that you do absolutely nothing to lay your actions, your motives, open to any sort of suspicion? "I realize that as one who inherited a claim to the title, 'Duchess of Io,' you are deeply interested in current affairs on that colony. Others may read another meaning into your actions, though. At least one person has already hinted that you--" Lady Alice's breathing was swift. "Who?" she demanded. "Who is this person?" "I'm sorry. I can't say. But will you do as I suggest?" There was a moment of silence. Then the girl shut the book on her lap, laid it on the table, rose. "Very well, Lieutenant. I'm a rather poor deceiver, aren't I? Nevertheless, I thank you for your well-meant advice." She moved toward the doorway, grace and poise in her every stride. And she turned there to smile back at him, her voice soft and unamused. "Lieutenant," she said, "you should lay aside your shoulder-straps more often. The man beneath is most--interesting." Then she was gone, leaving behind her a red-faced, speechless, utterly chaotic Dan Mallory. * * * * *