Rastol sat down.
He sipped his drink and appeared to relax. "Be good enough to tell me," he said, "why you think I would be so lacking in a sense of public duty as to reject an assignment to which my government has called me."
"The answer is simple," said Kring. "The Murain government is not your government. Your allegiance is to the totalitarian movement."
"I think the public record will show the falsehood of that statement," said Rastol. "The trial to which I was so cruelly subjected proved just the opposite. You will recall that the verdict was one of acquittal."
"Only," said Kring, "because some witnesses were bribed—and others were murdered."
Rastol smiled thinly. "Your proof?"
Kring smiled also. "Of that? None, I admit. But we have proof of other things—things without value in a court of law, perhaps, but which may persuade you to retire to private life, for your tranquillity of mind."
"Produce them," said Rastol.
He was a cool one, Scott had to admit. Then the newsman realized that Kring was looking at him.
"Mr. Warren," he said, "if you will be so kind." And he held out his hand.