Tony worked up an innocent look. He spread his hands on the black surface of the desk, smiled, and said mildly: "Out of your mind. My lights have been as steady as old Emote Neutral herself. Probably that blonde you got Central Direction kidded into thinking you need as an assistant—probably you sneaked up on her when she was in Personal Lok and...."
"What?" The Master Screen trembled a little and the narrow-faced man's eyes seemed to jerk out of registration for a moment. "Look here, Radek, I've stood just about enough of your insinuations!"
"Look who's making the lights flicker now," said Tony calmly. He waved an arm around the office. Emote Neutral was flickering rapidly as though controlled by an interrupter switch. "Central Direction should see this," he observed.
He stared briefly at the contorted face on the screen. That face was working convulsively now, getting red like the ritual roses over in the cooler.
He snorted disgustedly, reached forward and touched the matswitch which threw the Master Screen into visi-lok. At once the screen darkened and all sound left the office.
That was more like it. Let old hell-hips up in Supplies and Control stew if he wanted, there wasn't anything in the Constitution—not even the old Constitution—that said a man had to sit and look at him.
"Central Direction to Radek!" a hard voice rapped out of the alternate speaker over in the corner.
Tony Radek jerked, spun around. He swallowed quickly, said nervously: "Yes, sir?"
"Radek, you're violating Ordinance Six, Code 325, Division of Security! Unlock that visi-screen at once!"
"Yes, sir." Tony's hand flew to the matswitch, pulled it. "Sorry. Elbow must have hit it accidentally. Didn't know it was locked...."