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Senesin talked as he poured. “Did you ever hear of a group called the Federalist Party?”

“Yes,” said Colonel Sorban. “They want to federalize the Empire and get rid of the Imperial Family. Not a very popular group.”

“No, but they’re right! They’re right! Don’t you see that? And nobody pays any attention to them!”

“Calm down, son. What have the Federalists got to do with this?”

“They have sympathizers in the Palace,” Senesin explained. “They’ve been able to get proof that the Emperor is illegally tampering with the Government, that he’s been brainwashing my father. And they’re going to turn that proof over to me.”

“I don’t quite follow the reason for that,” the colonel lied easily. “Why don’t they use it themselves?”

“They can’t. Nobody’d believe them. Everyone would think that the proof had been faked for political propaganda.

“On the other hand, if I do it, all I can be accused of is having a personal motive. And if a man wants to get his father out of a jam, most people will agree that I have a perfect right to do so. Besides, I have enough influence to get people to listen to me, to give the evidence a fair hearing. If the newsies got this stuff from the Federalists, they’d throw it away without looking at it. But they’ll listen to me.”

“The newsies?” asked the colonel in a perfect imitation of mild astonishment. “You intend to turn this stuff over to news publishers?”

“Certainly! That’s the only way. Put the evidence before the people, and they’ll see what they’re up against. I personally don’t care whether we have an Emperor or not, but at least we can force Hannikar IV to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Jaimie.”

“I see.” The colonel took another sip at his brandy and appeared to think it over. Wisely, young Senesin said nothing.

“How are we to get this evidence?” the colonel asked at last.

“We’re to meet a man,” Senesin said, with an air of melodrama. “We will get a call at fifteen of twelve, telling us where to meet him. We have to be there at midnight.”

Oh, brother, thought the colonel, they really picked their man. They’ve got him thinking he’s hip-deep in a romantic spy story.

Was I that way at twenty-two? A romantic? I suppose I must have been; why else would I have joined the Guards? Not for the pay, certainly.

Hell, I guess I’m still a romantic, in a way. Being a secret agent isn’t all fun and games, but it has its compensations.

Aloud, he said, “Very well, son; I’ll go with you. Did you tell them there’d be someone accompanying you?”

“I told them I’d have a friend along. I told them it would be you. They said it was all right, that they knew you were a friend of Dad’s. They even knew you’ve been a little bitter at being retired from the Guards so young.” He looked embarrassed. “Pardon me, my lord.”

“That’s all right,” said the colonel steadily. He managed to give the appearance of a man who was doing his best not to look bitter.

“You aren’t carrying a gun, are you?” Senesin asked suddenly. “They said we weren’t to be armed. They’ll probably search us.”

“I haven’t been in the habit of carrying a gun lately,” said the colonel. “They won’t find anything on me.”

He finished his brandy while Senesin finished his second one. While the younger man refilled both goblets, the colonel asked permission to use the bathroom. He was gone less than three minutes, which he had spent with thumb and middle finger to larynx and mastoid bone.

At eleven forty-five promptly, the phone chimed. No face appeared on the screen when young Senesin answered it, but a voice gave an address on Kalia Road.

Three minutes later, the two men were on the roof, signaling for a skycab.

* * * * *