"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_."