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It was probably appropriate to the whole curious muddle that the more he learned the more confused he became.
    The hell with it for today, anyhow. If he acquired any more contradictory data before he’d relaxed with a good dinner and a night’s sound sleep, he’d develop a dreadful case of mental indigestion.

V
    He was shaving next morning when the phone sounded. A familiar voice followed his touch on the attention switch.
    “Morning, Cross. I’ve arranged for you to see Dr. Rainshaw today, as I promised.”
    “Morning, Redvers. That’s very kind of you. Ah—I don’t want to seem unappreciative, but are you sure this is
purely
in the interests of cooperation?”
    Redvers gave an engaging chuckle. “I told you yesterday, Cross: we desperately need an outside opinion on the muddle we’ve drifted into, and you’re the best outsider we have on hand. Tell me, incidentally: has Watson invited you to Club Cosmica this evening?”
    “Don’t tell me you have that store of his bugged!”
    “No. But I gather you called there yesterday, and Watson is utterly predictable. He talks every customer he can into signing on. By the way, in case you were wondering, it appears to be a genuine organization, not a commercial racket. Some of the most respectable people working in the stardropper field are regular attenders at its meetings.”
    “You must be very interested in Watson,” Dan said. “Why?”
    “For the same reason that I assume took you to his store. The biggest firm of its kind in the country is an obvious place to keep in touch with what’s going on. Look, I imagine you haven’t had breakfast yet, so I won’t keep you from it. Dr. Rainshaw is at a government research station in Richmond, on the fringe of London. If I call for you at ten sharp, we’ll be in plenty of time to keep the appointment I’ve made.”
    Promptly at ten Redvers arrived, driving not an official car but—presumably—his own, a small electrice-blue Healeysteam convertible of a type Dan had expected to see all around London, knowing the demand for them, but which were still rare in Britain because so many were being exported to pollution-conscious California. Having left a message with a supercilious and puzzled reception clerk, to say that if a Miss Lilith Miles called she should be given an apology for his absence, he went out to the sidewalk. On the point of getting into the car, he heard his name called shrilly.
    And there was Lilith, hurrying toward him with a suspicious expression.
    “Just a moment,” Dan told Redvers under his breath, and turned to greet the girl with a smile.
    “Sorry!” he exclaimed. “I have to go see someone unexpectedly. I left a message at the desk asking you to call back later.”
    “Ohhh—I.” For an instant he thought she was going to hit him; her fists doubled shut and her mouth turned sharply down at the corners. But she recovered, and said in a moderate tone, “You did make me a promise, though—didn’t you?”
    “Sure I did. And I’ll keep it too. But this is important, and I didn’t hear about the appointment until this morning.
    “What’s the trouble?” Redvers called from the car. Dan explained in a few words. Listening, Lilith looked so woebegone it was almost funny. When he had finished, she broke in before Redvers could answer.
    “If you’re going somewhere on business, you won’t need your instrument, will you? Can’t you just lend it to me?”
    “I shouldn’t,” Redvers said, addressing Dan. “Not if you want to see it again.”
    She favored him with a furious glare.
    “Well …” Dan gave a shrug. “I’m on my way to see Dr. Rainshaw, the man who discovered the whole thing. You wouldn’t want me to miss a chance like that, would you?”
    “Goodness, no!” Lilith’s expression changed magically. “Oh, you lucky devil! I’d give anything to—Hey! Can I come along?”
    “No, you cannot,” Redvers said crossly. “Come on, getin! I’m likely to be booked for