"Save the protests, Fith. You have some explaining to do. And I don't think your story will be good enough."
"It is for you to explain! This person who was beaten—"
"Not beaten. Just rapped a few times to loosen his memory."
"Then you admit—"
"It worked, too. He remembered lots of things, once he put his mind to it."
Fith rose; Shluh followed suit.
"I shall ask for your immediate recall, Mr. Consul. Were it not for your diplomatic immunity, I should do more—"
"Why did the government fall, Fith? It was just after the task force paid its visit, and before the arrival of the first Terrestrial diplomatic mission."
"This is an internal matter!" Fith cried, in his faint Groacian voice. "The new regime has shown itself most amiable to you Terrestrials. It has outdone itself—"
"—to keep the Terrestrial consul and his staff in the dark," Retief said. "And the same goes for the few terrestrial businessmen you've visaed. This continual round of culture; no social contacts outside the diplomatic circle; no travel permits to visit out-lying districts, or your satellite—"