"Uh-huh," said Mihul. "Old goats."
"Eh?" said Doctor Plemponi.
"I overheard you discussing Trigger's lilt with Mantelish."
Plemponi sat down at his desk. "You shouldn't eavesdrop, Mihul," he said severely. "I'd better get that message promptly to Tate, I suppose. She meant what she said, don't you think?"
"Every bit of it," said Mihul.
"Tate warned me she might get very difficult about this time. She's too conscientious, I feel."
"She also," said Mihul, "has a boy friend in the Manon System. They've been palsy ever since they went through the school here together."
"Ought to get married then," Plemponi said. He shuddered. "My blood runs cold every time I think of how close those grabbers got to her yesterday!"
Mihul shrugged. "Relax! They never had a chance. The characters Tate has guarding her are the fastest-moving squad I ever saw go into action."
"That," Plemponi said reflectively, "doesn't sound much like our Maccadon police."