"I had only an inkling that something was going on. I asked no questions, for fear that I might learn more than I wanted to know. To set the record straight: I am not well-acquainted with Titus Pompo."

Egon Tamm asked Floreste: "Does this accord with your own recollection?"

"Closely enough."

"That will be all, Namour. You may step down."

Namour returned to his seat, still smiling his soft vague smile.

The Nunciator called out: "Drusilla co-Laveny Clattuc!

Please step forward!"

Drusilla, sitting between Aries and Spanchetta, rose uncertainly to her feet.

"Do you mean me?"

"Was your name called?"

"Oh, yes! That was my name."

"Then why should I not mean you?"

"I'm sure I don't know."

"Come forward, if you please."

Drusilla twitched her rather unsuitable black and persimmon-pink gown to its best advantage, then sauntered across the chamber to the chair reserved for witnesses.

"Please be seated," said the bailiff.

"You understand that you must answer all questions truthfully and in full detail?"

"Of course!" Drusilla, seating herself, gave Floreste a gay fluttering little wave of the fingers. Floreste, watching somberly, made no response.

"I'm sure I don't know what I can tell you," said Drusilla.

"I know nothing of this affair."

Egon Tamm asked: "You were not aware of the Thurben Island excursions?"

"I knew something was going on, and I suspected that it might be just a bit naughty--but naturally I had nothing to do with it."

"You were the representative of Ogmo Enterprises, were you not?"

Drusilla made a flippant gesture.

"Oh, that! I just carried around advertising material and dropped it off here and there."

The judge Dame Melba Veder asked sharply: "You did not actively solicit custom for the enterprise?"

Drusilla blinked.

"I'm not sure that I understand what you mean."

Floreste spoke in a dreary voice: "Don't badger the poor creature. She knew nothing."

Dame Melba paid him no heed.

"You were on terms of intimate friendship with Namour. Did you not discuss Ogmo Enterprises and the excursions with him?"

- "Not really. He looked at a brochure once or twice, and just laughed and threw it aside, and that was all there was to it."

"What of your husband, Aries?"

"About the same."

"That is all."

Egon Tamm said: "You may step down."

With patent relief and a cheerful smile for Floreste, Drusilla rejoined Aries and Spanchetta. Bodwyn Wook now approached the bench and spoke in a low voice to Egon Tamm, who in turn conferred with his colleagues. Bodwyn Wook went to the side and waited.

Egon Tamm addressed the chamber: "The Superintendent of Bureau B has brought another matter to our attention, which might as well be dealt with now. Sir Floreste, the affair does not concern you, and you may retire."

Floreste rose to his feet and looking neither right nor left, marched from the chamber. Egon Tamm said: "I now ask that Bodwyn Wook acquaint us with the details of the case he has brought to our attention."

Bodwyn Wook came forward.

"This matter concerns a particularly nasty little fraud, perpetrated, apparently, from motives of sheer malice. I refer to the Agency status of Captain Glawen Clattuc. Several months ago, and well before his critical birthday, his index was 22. Then Artwain Clattuc retired and Eri Clattuc was killed in a landslide at Cape Journal. Glawen's index became 20.

"Shortly afterward, Glawen's father, Scharde Clattuc, flew out on a routine patrol and never returned. We searched carefully but at last were forced to give Scharde up for lost.

"Now, then: what happens next? Curious events! Two weeks before Glawen's birthday a ship comes down from space, bringing Aries, Drusilla and their son, Gorton! A great surprise indeed, and bad news for Glawen! He is superseded by Gorton and his index rises to 21.

"At any time the Clattuc House Election Committee chaired, incidentally, by Spanchetta could meet and declare a presumption of death for Scharde. If this happens before Glawen's birthday, as would seem reasonable and proper, Glawen's index becomes 20, and in effect he assumes his father's place in Clattuc House. Spanchetta, despite angry protests from others of the committee, delays until two weeks after Glawen's birthday, when Glawen has become a collateral. Scharde is pronounced dead, leaving a vacant slot, and who is nominated to become the new Clattuc?

Namour! Is it not superb?"

Spanchetta could contain herself no longer. She jumped to her feet.

"I protest these vile slanders with all the vehemence at my command! I am totally amazed that the High Judges allow this mad little baboon to strut up and down their court, making a mockery of all dignity and vilifying decent folk! I demand an explanation!"

Egon Tamm said soberly: "Superintendent, you have heard Dame Spanchetta's request. Can you amplify your case?"

"I want no amplification!" cried Spanchetta.

"I want a full apology and a retraction of all these infamous charges."