for now. But do not keep me waiting too long, Manning."

She was gone, leaving the room so silently that he was almost unaware of her going. But the air of the room was still heavy with her scent. Manning dropped heavily into the chair and loosened the collar of his one-piece suit.

"Whew," he said.

The scent was still strong in the room when Xelia Zon arrived. Manning saw the fingers of his nose[7] twitch but he made no reference to the perfume.

[7] There was considerable misunderstanding between Terrans and Regulusians when they first met. For a long time the Terrans thought that every Regulusian they met was thumbing his nose at them.

"My friend will see that the activities of Chaun Cla are checked," he said.

Manning nodded. "Okay," he said. He grinned at the Regulusian. "I guess I ought to make arrangements for you to chaperon me day and night while I'm here. It might be safer."

Xelia Zon pretended to first notice the scent of perfume. "Velmar Shonda?" he asked.

"In person," said Manning. "Just being in the same room with her is like a post graduate course in seduction. If she's a fair example, no wonder Aldebaran industry is so far behind the rest of the Federation."

"I am not familiar with the Aldebaran civilization," Xelia said solemnly, but there was a discernible twinkle in his eyes.

"There's very little exchange between Aldebaran and the rest of the Federation and I'm beginning to understand why," Manning said. His face grew thoughtful. "You know, Xelia, the actions of Chaun Cla were like a delaying tactic. Do you suppose it was to help her get into my room? Could she be working for Dtilla Raishelle?"

"She might be. I believe that she has been very friendly with the Acruxian. And they did arrive here at about the same time."

"I thought of that," Manning said. "Still, why go through all that business with the desk clerk? She said that she bribed a bellhop to let her in and I think she was telling the truth. Maybe she is working for Dtilla, but Chaun Cla must have been covering up for something else." He was silent a moment, then got to his feet.

"I've just thought of something," he said quietly. "Maybe it was a three-way job. 

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