"The people must be served, of course," Crane said, "and that's one of the things I want to talk to you about. The people's interests." Matthew Porter cocked an alarmed eye as he bit into a roll. "Have their interests been violated?" Crane glanced around and lowered his voice. "There's been too much loose talk going around about that project you've got Brent Taber on." Porter laid the roll down very carefully, as though he feared it might go off. "I'm not sure I know what you're referring to, Senator." "Your reticence is quite understandable. That I bring it up at all must shock you, but--" Crane hesitated, a touch of sadness brushing across his face. "But what, Senator?" "You understand, certainly, that I hold the greatest respect for Brent Taber. That's why I hesitated to come to you." "It seems to me Halliday said something about calling Taber in. It had to do with a mild reprimand over Taber's attitude on legislative-executive relations." "Halliday?" Senator Crane asked innocently. "He's another of the really good men you picked for government service." "I trust Halliday implicitly, but he's carrying a big load so I'm glad you came directly to me, Senator. Exactly what is the trouble?" "In plain words, there have been some bad leaks out of Taber's office. There is in existence a taped recording of a meeting." Porter was aghast. He tried to hide it, which made his greenish expression all the more ludicrous--as though he'd swallowed a worm out of his salad. "Impossible." "You'd think so, with all the top-secret precautions that have been taken." "How did you discover this?" Crane held up a restraining hand. "I'd be happy to tell you if it would serve any purpose, but believe me, it wouldn't. I would only tend to eliminate a contact who is extremely loyal to me and--I might add--to good government." "I understand. But I certainly can't imagine what has happened to Taber. I would have backed him with my last dime." "I actually don't think it was Taber's fault. A man can't personally see to every detail in his department." "That's the responsibility of whoever is in charge." Crane sighed. "Yes, I guess that's a cold, hard fact of life in this time of danger. But don't be too hard on him. Perhaps there's an explanation." "He'll have his chance to explain," Porter said grimly. "I'm sure you understand how it pains me to have to--well, put this black mark on the record of a good man. I debated many hours and searched my soul before I came to you. With a man's career at stake--" "Men are expendable," Porter snapped. "The nation's safety is not." Again Crane glanced around. "Are the Russians _really_ that far ahead?" Porter's eyes narrowed just a shade. "The Russians? Did you listen to the tape you mentioned?" "Only sketchily. I assumed--"