"Good. Then start using your word right now. There are three persons I want placed in temporary custody; they are to be brought over here at once for questioning." * * * * * Mandleco looked appalled. "Questioning? _Here?_" "Yes, right here. Immediately! The three I want are Mrs. Carmack--I happen to know she's still in the city. And Brook Pederson--you should reach him easily at Central News Bureau. The third--" "Would that be Professor Losch?" Mandleco smugly asked. "Sorry, but Losch happens to be in Bermuda right now." Beardsley said sharply: "How did you know that?" "Why, I--I'm acquainted with Losch, you know. He was planning a vacation, and he mentioned Bermuda--" "No. I don't mean that. _How did you know Losch was my third person?_" Mandleco bristled a little, his face reddening as he groped for an answer. "Never mind," Beardsley waved it aside. "If Losch is in Bermuda at present we'll reach him by tele-stat right now!" He was suddenly crisp as he propelled the Minister of Justice toward Jeff Arnold's office. Mandleco stared at this little man, wondering if it were the same person he had been talking to just minutes before. "Now see here, Beardsley--" But he was interrupted. "I thought we had an understanding! Of course, if you'd prefer to count on ECAIAC--" "Very well," Mandleco nodded grimly, "I gave you my word. But the instant Arnold repairs the breakdown, your little experiment is over! Do you understand that?" Beardsley nodded. He understood very well. "In the meantime, Beardsley, I warn you. I'll have no brow-beating of these citizens, no--what was it called--third-degreeing tactics! I understand that sort of thing used to be pretty prevalent." Beardsley snorted, as if that were beneath comment, and closed the office door behind them. Mandleco hit him with a cagey glance. "The Logicals and the Primes, eh? I suppose you know that I happen to be one of those Primes." Beardsley looked straight at him. "Yes, I'm aware of it. My own approach will be individualistic, of course, but I promise you won't be over-looked!" * * * * * It might have been fatal--but Beardsley had judged his man well. Mandleco took it as a challenge. He was silent as he approached the tele-stat, and he no longer seemed amused. He put through the directive to have Mrs. Sheila Carmack and Mr. Brook Pederson brought in. "As my guests, that is," Mandleco told his operative. "_Be sure they understand that._ They are to be brought to Crime-Central, Mechanical Division, at once ... yes, I said Mechanical Division! At once means _now_." Beardsley nodded approval. "And now Professor Losch, please?" Without a waste of motion, Mandleco put through to Bermuda on priority beam. While they waited he gave Beardsley a look of puzzlement and new respect. "Ah--I'm not implying that it's against protocol, of course, but I assume you've already made some investigation along lines of your own?"