Miss Furkle compressed her lips. "If Mr. Magnan were here, I'm sure he wouldn't dream of interfering in the work of other departments. I ... overheard your conversation with the gentleman from the Croanie Legation—"
"The lists, Miss Furkle."
"I'm not accustomed," Miss Furkle said, "to intruding in matters outside our interest cluster."
"That's worse than listening in on phone conversations, eh? But never mind. I need the information, Miss Furkle."
"Loyalty to my Chief—"
"Loyalty to your pay-check should send you scuttling for the material I've asked for," Retief said. "I'm taking full responsibility. Now scat."
The buzzer sounded. Retief flipped a key. "MUDDLE, Retief speaking...."
Arapoulous's brown face appeared on the desk screen.
"How-do, Retief. Okay if I come up?"
"Sure, Hank. I want to talk to you."