"I'm on my way," he cried. "This is it! Give me a complete travel-kit quick and an Extra-Special transformation outfit."
Two minutes later Neville was on his way to the landing field, the two valuable bags between his knees. He was there when the spaceship landed, and was inside it before Simeon Carstairs showed up. The copter soared away the moment he had left it. Carstairs would not know he had a shadow.
Neville went straight to the captain, whom he found resting momentarily in his cabin. He flashed his badge.
"I am your steward from here to Vesta," he told him. "Send for your regular one at once and give him his instructions."
"But my dear sir," objected the captain, rising from his bunk, "as much as I would like to cooperate, I cannot do that. You must know that under the new regulations all members of a ship's crew must be photographed and the pictures posted in prominent parts of the ship. It is your own police rule and is for the protection of passengers from imposters."
"Never mind that," snapped Neville, "get him in here."
The steward came and Neville studied him carefully. He was a swarthy man with heavy shoulders and thick features. His eyes were jet black. But his height was little different from that of the special investigator.
"Say something," directed Neville, "I want to hear your voice. Recite the twelve primary duties of a steward."
The man obeyed.
"It's okay," announced Neville when he had finished. "I can do it."