“And now,” said Count Godfrey, closing the door of his private room and busying himself with the everpresent coffee maker, “don’t you think it’s time to break down and let me know what’s happened? And what you’re planning to do next?”
Duke Harald told him; succinctly but graphically.
“The next step,” he concluded, “is for me to get back to Arkady. Before Duke Charles knows I’m coming; and before the Terrans think to close the local spaceways. You keep a courier-boat fueled and ready to go, I believe?”
“Yes.”
“Well,” said Duke Harald quietly, “tonight I’m going to steal it.”
“Steal it?” For a moment the old ambassador looked baffled. Then understanding came, and he smiled.
“Yes,” said Duke Harald. “Arkady needs this embassy on Terra. So far my actions have been, legally, those of a private citizen. And as long as we keep it that way; as long as you are careful not to lend me your ambassadorial sanction, then the Terrans can be as suspicious as they please. But in law they can’t, and probably in practice won’t, take any action to close up your shop. So you see—officially you cannot sign my ticket!”
“But what about a crew?”
“For a courier-boat? You forget I qualified in cruisers,” said Duke Harald. “So long as the boat is stocked—”
“It is.”