"Now!" he exploded. "I told you to make that one thousand notes a year, not two thousand."
"I thought she was worth it," said Landovitch blandly.
Jaro glared at his friend, trying to keep the amusement from his eyes and face.
"That's as much as a general in the Martian army makes." He ran his fingers upward through his crisp black hair. "It's going to be difficult enough persuading the prince that I need a secretary at all as head of his army, let alone get him to pay her two thousands notes a year. When I asked you to send that fake spaceogram, if I'd...."
"But what a secretary," Landovitch interrupted, rolling his eyes.
"And that line," Jaro snorted. "'Recommended by a very dear friend of mine, Mr. Irving Landovitch.' The prince never even heard of you."
"He will, he will," Landovitch assured him.
Jaro stopped short. "What do you mean? What's coming off here?"
"I've been attached to the Terrestrial embassy at the Martian court."
"You couldn't by any chance, have applied for that post?" asked Jaro darkly.