"Why," he asked her, "what's the matter?"
"Guy, before I go any further, I want to know something. Did you, or did you not decorate father's ship?"
"Why," he answered proudly, "I most certainly did."
"I didn't believe it of you," she said sharply.
"There was nothing wrong with it," he said. "It was the best thing that happened to me."
"You believe that?" asked Laura.
"I certainly do. After all, it proved the worth of my invention. And," he added eagerly, "it gave me another set of insignia to have installed."
"If the worth of your invention is more interesting to you than the interest of my father's office," said Laura sharply, "your latest rise in power—made by using father's finest ship as a stepping stone—is of little interest to me."
"But Laura. I'm a sector commander now. And you may have my senior executive's stars."