"Look," began Jaro annoyed.
"My eyes are practically popping out of my head now," she interrupted.
"Another morning like this and I take the first space liner back to
Earth." She jammed her hat on backward, snatched her bag from the desk
drawer.
"I'm not trying to pick you up. This is...."
"How disappointing."
Jaro began again patiently. "Wait for me in the first grog shop.
There's something I must know. It's important." He cleared his throat.
"Don't you find the heat rather uncomfortable, Miss Webb. But perhaps
you've become accustomed to it."
Mr. Peet came back into the room.
"Why, no, I mean yes," replied Miss Webb, a blank expression in her
eyes.
"Goodbye, Miss Webb," said Mr. Peet firmly.
Jaro grinned and winked at her. Miss Webb tottered out of the room.
As the door closed behind the girl, Albert Peet licked his lips, said:
"Mr. Moynahan, I suppose my disappearance back at your room requires
some explanation. But the fact is that Stanley brought an important bit
of news." He paused.
Jaro said nothing.
"You might be interested to know that Miss Mikail is quite safe.
Karfial Hodes has her, but Stanley assures me she will be quite safe."
Again he paused. As Jaro remained silent, his neck mottled up pinkly.
"The fact is, Mr. Moynahan, that we won't need you after all. I realize
that we've put you to considerable trouble and we're prepared to pay
you whatever you believe your time is worth. Say five hundred Earth
notes?"
"That's fair enough," replied Jaro.