* * * * *
Sam blocked the doorway with his shoulders as he entered the room.
Doran followed like a diminutive tug pushing a very large liner. They
closed the door. Matheny stood up, avoiding Sam's glare.
"Okay, louse," said Sam. "You got a better pal here than you deserve,
but he ain't managed to talk me into settling for nothing."
"Let me get this--I mean--well," said Matheny. "Look, sir, you claim
that I, I mean that your wife and I were, uh, well, we weren't. I was
only visiting--"
"Stow it, stow it." Sam towered over the Martian. "Shoot it to the
Moon. You had your fun. It'll cost you. One million dollars."
"_One mil_--But--but--Gus," wailed Matheny, "this is out of all reason!
I thought you said--"
Doran shrugged. "I am sorry, Pete. I could not get him any farther
down. He started asking fifty. You better pay him."
"No!" Matheny scuttled behind a chair. "No, look here! I, Peter Matheny
of the Martian Republic, declare you are blackmailing me!"
"I'm asking compensation for damages," growled Sam. "Hand it over or
I'll go talk to a lawyer. That ain't blackmail. You got your choice,
don't you?"