"Now, gentlemen!" interrupted Mayne. "Let me get on with this. Both of you, I'm sure, realize that I'm not a lawyer in spite of being a special judge. If the colonies way out here had enough lawyers to spare, I certainly wouldn't be sticking my head into this. Nevertheless, any decision I make here will be regarded as legally binding by the government of Rigel IX, so let us remain level-headed."
"Very well, Judge," said Melin. "Here are the figures on—"
"Please round them off," said Mayne. "If I have to listen to a long list in centicredits, I'll probably go off to see what kind of beer they brew here."
"You wouldn't like it," muttered Voorhis, staring sourly at the village.
"No doubt," grinned Mayne.
Melin swallowed and returned to an inner pocket a sheaf of papers he had withdrawn.
"Speaking very loosely," he went on, as if hating to do anything loosely, "the coverage was about as follows: for the Gemsbok herself, two million; but that was really a nominal figure accorded as a sort of courtesy. Otherwise, at her true worth, the authorities would hardly have permitted Captain Voorhis to take her into space—"
"Get on with it," urged Mayne, to forestall any wrangle.
"Er ... yes. Then on the cargo, the purchase cost of two hundred thousand credits."
Voorhis visibly flinched and began to acquire a ruddy hue.