"Little Barnaby," said Manning, "will have enough trouble living down the fact that he has you for a grandfather, so he'll need my fatherly guidance. I'll do it."

"My dear Manning," J. Barnaby said expansively, "I knew I could count on you. I've always known that there was a heart of gold beneath that—er—plain exterior. I knew I could depend on you to put aside personal considerations—"

"Don't try to make such a big thing out of it," Manning interrupted. "I said I'd do it. Now what is it you want?"

"Do you know Regulus II?"

"I know of it, but I've never been there."

"You will be, my boy, before the day is over. You, of course, know, that for years the Federation has been bothered by Acrux and its satellite systems. They have constantly tried to stir up trouble among the member planets of the Federation, as well as trying to provoke incidents which might give them an excuse to invade us. Well, an Acruxian agent is now on Regulus II."

"Why tell me about it?" Manning asked. "Sounds like a job for the Federation police."

"As a matter of fact," Barnaby said in what he imagined was a confidential tone, "this is a pretty delicate situation and I doubt if the average policeman could handle it. Then, there are reasons why there might be complaints if the matter is handled by a regular government representative."

"What reasons?" Manning asked bluntly. His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "And while you're at it, you might also explain what your special angle is."

"My dear Manning, my only motivation is that of the responsibility of my great office—"

"Meteor dust," snapped Manning. "Tell me the whole thing or I'll let you go ahead and put me in jail."

When he saw that Manning wouldn't give in, the pained expression faded from J. Barnaby's face. "As a matter of fact," he said, "there is a slight political aspect to the problem. As you know, there is a galactic election coming up. I should like to continue to serve as Secretary of Planets, but this will be possible only if the Republocrats are re-elected. It looks as if it might be a close race."

"And what does that have to do with Regulus and the Acruxian agent you say is there?"

"Everything," J. Barnaby said simply. 

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