"Albert Peet," she continued, "has been trying to sell out but nobody will touch the stock, not since it looks as if the Earth Congress is going to grant the Mercurians their freedom. Everybody knows that the first thing the Mercurians will do, will be to boot out the Latonka Trust."
"What about this Karfial Hodes?" said Jaro. "I've heard that he's inciting the Mercurians to rebellion. The newscaster had a line about the revolution too. The government has advised all Terrestrials to return to Earth."
"It's not true," Joan flared. "It's all a pack of lies invented by the Latonka Trust. I know."
"But I should think rumors like that would run down the Latonka stock."
Joan shook her head. "It doesn't add up, I know. But Karfial Hodes is a real patriot. He wouldn't advocate a bloody revolution. That's not his way."
They both sipped their wine. Joan's eyes were narrowed thoughtfully but Jaro's features were impassive.
"Well," he said at last, "I wouldn't give a Venusian kapek for Karfial Hodes' life right now."
"Why?"
Jaro shrugged. "They wanted me to find him and kill him. Stanley, that little rattlesnake, is captured by Hodes' men and escapes, then Albert Peet doesn't need me anymore. What would you say?"