"I'm sailing for New York in the morning," Bedient said.
Framtree shivered and fell silent.
"You've found work that you like here?" Bedient asked simply.
The other glanced at him humorously, and yet with a bit of intensity, too,—as if searching for the meaning under such an unadorned question.
"I seem to have caught on with Señor Rey at The Pleiad," he replied.
"Ah—"
"I'm afraid you're making a mistake, sir," Framtree added quickly. "I'm not barred from New York on any cashier matter. You know when something you want badly—and can't have—is in a town—that isn't the place for you…. Even if you like that town best on earth…. What I mean is, I'm not using The Pleiad as a hiding proposition."
"I wasn't thinking of that," Bedient said.
"I suppose it would be natural—down here——"
"But I saw you first."