Sertant doubled over, got thrust upright again by a hard left cross which loosened his teeth and sent two of them flying from his mouth with a spray of blood. Sertant gurgled, covered head with hands and slumped on the desk.
Tedor left the office, tidying his clothing. In the outer room he passed a near-hysterical Miss Peterson, who had just returned the phone to its cradle.
"Better get him some water," Tedor told her. "Cold water. And tell him I'm sorry. Tell him I'm an Agent, doing an Agent's job and nothing, not even Ruscar, can delay it. Tell him Ruscar can find me in Moscow if he really wants me."
"M-moscow?"
"Moscow." Tedor closed the door behind him.
Dorlup was sweating. Naturally, he had nothing to hide; he had done nothing which could call the Agents down on him. "I don't know what you're talking about," he repeated for the fifth time.
"We'll see about that. We have a sworn statement by this solidio actress—"
"Beti? That's insane. Beti's been with me for months, I admit that; but my behavior has always been within the limits of the law. Why man, the natives accept me as one of their own."
"That's what you say."