Cosmo pointed his right hand lazily at Natal, the Martian spy. It was the arm with the dart gun up its sleeve. Natal blanched.
"Ask him," said Cosmo blandly. "He's one of the Renegade's men."
Everyone stared at the Martian.
"Well?" thundered the Commissioner.
"Natal wanted to quit. Bemmelman had tried to sell him out." Cosmo subtly reminded the Martian of the planter's treachery. "He came to me."
"Why to you?" the Commissioner wanted to know.
"He knew I was trying to prove Bemmelman murdered my father and mother and stole my plantation." Cosmo shrugged, added in a pointed tone. "I told him that if he would—ah—share his information with you, Commissioner, that the two of you could split the fifty thousand monad reward. I'd be satisfied with regaining my plantation."
The fat Commissioner's eyes shone with cupidity. He and the astounded Martian exchanged glances.
Bemmelman, who hadn't missed this by-play, roared and half flung himself from the sofa.
"He's trying to frame me!"