"In the first place," he growled, "I don't want his lousy payment for fuel. I said I'd take the blame for that, an' I will. On the ship ... well, maybe she ain't worth two million. Maybe she ain't been for a few years now—"
Melin made a show of counting on his fingers.
"... But they charged me premiums by that figure an' I say they oughta pay by that figure."
"But can you prove she's a total loss, captain?" asked Mayne.
Voorhis grimaced and spat upon the ground.
"Try to get near her, Judge! You'll get proof fast enough!"
"Well ... about the cargo, then?"
"That's where he's gouging me!" exploded Voorhis. "The idea of using the cost as of loading on Rigel IX! Hell, you know the margin of profit there is in trading on these new planets, twenty to one at least. I figured to lift off with four million worth of ores, gems, curios, and whatnot."
"So your point is that the mere transportation of the goods through space to this planet increased their value. What about that, Mr. Melin?"
Melin shifted uncomfortably on his bench. Mayne would have liked to change his own position, but feared splinters.