"You look better, I must say."
"I feel as though I've dropped a lot of foolishness since I did it," admitted Maynard.
"Why did you grow it in the first place?"
"Laura Greggor said she liked men with mustaches."
"And now you don't like Laura Greggor?"
"That isn't it. She'll take me for what I'm worth from now on."
"Them's harsh words, podner," drawled Kane. "What is your feeling for Laura?"
"I don't know," said Maynard honestly. "We've both been a little rough on one another, you know. She treated me slightly coldish the last time I saw her—though she was indeed warmer than the incident after the Orionad got painted. Then, too, the last time I saw her was the day before I headed for Pluto with the Orionad. Because she has been so snippy once before, I gave nebulae to Joan Forbes to pin on, remember?"
"That was a cold thing to do," said Kane.
"Laura told me not to annoy her until I could give her the insignia of a patrol marshal—when I became sector marshal. So when I was raised last time, I did as she demanded."