"I don't understand it," Qui Dor protested.
"They tried to have me killed," Channing said quite matter-of-factly,
as if it weren't very important to him. "Because I was real, I couldn't
be willed out of existence. This ties the whole thing up, boss. Qui Dor
and the Denebian Ambassador are working together in a conspiracy to--"
"Your whole case," Qui Dor interrupted him, "rests on one simple fact.
You claim we created a double for you because we wanted a spy, as
you put it--an informant would be better--to keep us abreast of all
diplomatic developments here. Well, I will admit it. You are the real
Channing and this other man is your copy."
The copy moaned softly. Channing felt sorry for him.
"But," Qui Dor went on, "the copy was never created for that purpose,
and I can prove it. Mr. Secretary, will you summon the witness I have
waiting?"
State nodded, glared at Channing, opened a door. In walked Ellen.
"Darling," she murmured, running into Channing's arms. "I'm ready to
admit I was wrong. I don't want Stephanie. I don't want your copy. I
want you."
"You see, Channing," Qui Dor explained, "after you and Mrs. Channing
began to argue about the little girl she had purchased from my
representative, she decided to purchase, for a trial period, a copy of
you which had all of your traits she liked, and none of the bad ones."
"You didn't," Channing said.