"No. Even I can't prove it on paper. That's why I want you to go out there and get the information. It will have to be done quickly, before Cronos can file notice of new prices."
"What do you mean, 'quickly'?"
"You'll have to take the Warbow, which is leaving for Luna this evening, in order to catch the Plunger, which is leaving Luna for Saturn. There won't be another chance for three weeks, and that will be too late."
It was all very pretty. Saturn was on the other side of the System at the time, and it would be a nice, long trip.
I shook my head. "Sorry, Mr. Venuccio, but, as I told you, I'm already engaged. You'll have to get someone else."
He looked suddenly desperate. "I will pay you well. I'll buy out your present contract, and I'll pay you double for the work."
We spent the rest of his bought-and-paid-for hour haggling. Or, rather, he haggled. I asked a lot of questions, and he tried to answer them in order to convince me that I should go, and I just asked more questions.
Exactly one hour from the time I'd been handed the hundred, I stood up. Venuccio was in the middle of a sentence, but I said: "Your hour's up, Mr. Venuccio. The answer is still no. Thank you for your business."
"But—" He started to rise, started to grasp my sleeve.