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gh imagination to appreciate the ideas Angelina was feeding him。 Yet I imagine he had the money and the titleand the ambitionwhich bination she had to have。 Once more I wondered where she was。
Something came in through the door and I recoiled； thinking the war was on。 It was only a robot； but it made such a hideous amount of hissing and clanking that I wondered what was wrong with it。 The Count ordered the ghastly thing to wheel over the bar； as it turned away I saw what could have been a chimney projecting behind one shoulder。 There was the distinct odor of coal smoke in the air。
〃Does that robot bum coal〃〃 I gurgled。
〃It goes；〃 the Count said； pouring us out a pair of drinks。 〃It is a perfect example of what is wrong with the Freiburian economy under the gracious rule of Villelm the Inpetent。 You don't see any robots like this in the capital！〃
〃I should hope not；〃 I gasped； staring bug…eyed at the trickle of steam escaping from the thing； and the stains of rust and coal dust on its plates。 〃Of course I've been away a long time 。 。 。 things change 。 。 。〃
〃They don't change fast enough！ And don't act galactic…wise with me； Diebstall。 I've been to Misteldross and seen how the rubes live。 You have no robots at allmuch less a contraption like this。 〃 He kicked at the thing in sullen anger and it staggered back a bit； valves clicking open as steam pumped into the leg pistons to straighten it up。 〃Two hundred years e next Grundlovsday we will have been in the League； milked dry and pacified by themand for what？ To provide luxuries for the King in Freiburbad。 While out here we get a miserable consignment of a few robot brains and some control circuitry。 We have to build the rest of the inefficient monsters ourselves。 And out in the real sticks where you e from they think robot is a misspelling of a boat that goes with oars！〃
He drained his glass and I made no attempt to explain to him the economics of galactic merce； planetary prestige； or the multifold levels of intermunication。 This lost planet had been cut off from the mainstream of galactic culture for maybe a thousand years； until contact had been reestablished after the Breakdown。 They were being eased back into the culture gradually； without any violent repercussions that might upset the process。 Sure； a billion robots could be dumped here tomorrow。 What good would that do the economy？ It was certainly much better to bring in the control units and let the locals build the things for themselves。 If they didn't like the final product they could improve the design instead of plaining。
The Count of course didn't see it this way。 Angelina had done a nice job at playing upon his prejudices and desires。 He was still glaring at the robot when he leaned forward and suddenly tapped a dial on the thing's side。
〃Look at that！〃 he shouted。 〃Down to eighty pounds pressure！ Next thing you know the thing will be falling on its face and burning the place down。 Stoke； you idiotstoke！！〃
A couple of relays closed inside the contraption and the robot clanked and put the tray of glasses down。 I took a very long drag on my drink and enjoyed the scene。 Trundling over to the fireplaceat a slower pace now I'll admitit opened a door in its stomach and flame belched out。 Using the coal scoop in the pail it shoveled in a good portion of anthracite and banged the firedoor shut again。 Rich black smoke boiled from its chimney。 At least it was housebroken and didn't shake out its grate here。
〃Outside； dammit； outside！〃 the Count shouted； coughing at the same time。 The smoke was a little thick。 I poured another drink and decided right then that I was going to like Rdenrundt。
I would have liked it a lot better if I could have found Angelina。 This whole affair bore every sign of her light touch； yet she was nowhere in sight。 I was shown to a room and met some of the officers on the Count's staff。 One of them； Kurt； a youth of noble lineage but no money； showed me around the grounds。 The place was a cross between a feudal keep and a small town； with a high wall cutting it off from the city proper。 There appeared to be no obvious signs of the Count's plans； outside of the number of armed retainers who lounged about and practiced uninterestedly in the shooting ranges。 It all locked too peaceful to be trueyet I had been brought here。 That was no accident。 I tried a little delicate questioning and Kurt was frank with his answers。 Like a lot of the far…country gentry be bore a grudge against the central authorities； although he would of course never have gotten around to doing anything about it on his own。 Somehow he had been recruited and was ready to go along with the plans； all of which were very vague to him。 I doubt if he had ever seen a corpse。 That he was telling me the truth about everything was obvious when I caught him in his first lie。
We had passed some women and bent a knee； and Kurt had volunteered the advice that they were the wives of two of the other officers。
〃And you're married too？〃 I asked。
〃No。 Never had the time； I guess。 Now I suppose it's too late； at least for awhile。 When this whole business is over and life is a little more peaceful there'll be plenty of time to settle down。〃
〃How right；〃 I agreed。 '〃What about the Count？ Is he married？ I've been away so many years that it's hard to keep track of that kind of thing。 Wives； children and such。〃 Without being obvious I was watching him when I asked this； and he gave a little start。
〃Well 。 。 。 yes； you might say。 I mean the Count was married； but there was an accident； he's not married now 。 。 。〃 His voice tapered away and he drew my attention to something else； happy to leave the topic。
Now if there is one thing that always marks Angelina's trail it is a corpse or two。 It took no great amount of inspiration to connect her with the 〃accidental〃 death of the Count's wife。 If the death had been natural Kurt would not have been afraid to talk about it。 He didn't mention the topic again and I made no attempt to pump him。 I had my lead。 Angelina may not have been in sightbut her spoor was around me on all sides。 It was just a matter of time now。 As soon as I was able to； I would shake Kurt and hunt up the bullyboys who had spirited me out of the jail。 Buy them a few drinks to assure them that there were no hard feelings about the beating they had given me。 Then pump them adroitly about the man who had led them。
Angelina made her move first。 One of the coal…burning robots came hissing and clanking around with a message。 The Count would like to see me。 I slicked my hair； tucked in my shirt and reported for duty。
I was pleased to see that the Count was a steady and solitary daytime drinker。 In addition； there was very little tobacco in his cigarette； the sweet smoke filled the room。 All this meant he was due for early dissolution； and I would not be numbered among his mourners。 None of this showed in my expression or attitude of course。 I was all flashing eye and hell…cracking attention。
〃Is it action； sir？ Is that why you sent for me？〃 I asked。
〃Sit down； sit down；〃 he mumbled； waving me towards a chair。 〃Relax。 Want a cigarette？〃 He pushed the box towards me and I eyed the thin brown cylinders with distaste。
〃Not today； sir。 I'm laying off smoking for awhile。 Sharpening up the old eye。 Keeping the old trigger finger limber and ready for action。〃
The Count's mind was occupied elsewhere and I doubt if he heard a word I said。 He chewed abstractedly at the inside of his cheek while he looked me up and down。 A decision finally struggled up through his half…clotted brain。
〃What do you know about the Radebrechen family？〃 he asked； which is about as exotic a question as I have ever had thrown at me。
Absolutely nothing；〃 I answered truthfully。 〃Should I？〃
〃No 。 。 。 no 。 。 。〃 he answered vaguely； and went back to chewing his cheek。 I was getting high just from breathing the air in the room and I wondered how be was feeling。
〃e with me；〃 he said； pushing over his chair and almost falling on top of it。 We plodded through a number of balls deeper into the building； until we came to a door； no different from the ones we had passed； except this one had a guard in front of ita rough looking brawny type with his arms casually crossed。 Just casual enough to let his fingers hang over his pistol grip。 He didn't budge when we came up。
〃It's all right；〃 the Duke of Rdenrundt said； with what I swear was a peevish tone。 〃He's with me。〃
〃Gotta search him anyway；〃 the guard said。 〃Orders。〃 More and more interesting。 Who issued orders the Count couldn't changein his own castle？ As if I didn't know。 And I recognized the guard's voice； he was one of the men who had taken me from my prison cell。 He searched me quickly and efficiently； then stepped aside。 The Count opened the door and I followed him in； trying not to tread on his heels。
One thing about realityit is always so much superior to theory。 I had every reason to believe that Angelina would be here； yet it was still a healthy shock to see her sitting at the table。 A kind of electric charge in my spine tingled right up to the roots of my hair。 This was a moment I had waited for for a very long time。 It took a positive effort to relax and appear indifferent。 At least as indifferent as any healthy young male is in front of an attractive package of femininity。
Of course this girl didn't resemble Angelina very much。 Yet I still had no doubt。 The face was changed as was the color of the hair。 And though the face was a new one it still held the same sweet； angelic quality as the old。 Her figure was much the way I remembered it； with perhaps a few slight improvements。 Hers was a surface transformation； with no attempt at being as plete as the one I had had done to me。
〃This is s Grav Bent Diebstall；〃 the count said； fixing his s hot and smoky little eyes on her。 〃The man you wanted to see； Engela。〃 So she was still an angel； though under a different name。 That was a bad habit she should watch； only I wasn't going to tell her。 A lot of people have been caught by taking an alias too similar to their old one。
〃Why thank you； Cassitor；〃 she said。 Cassitor indeed！ I'd look unhappy too if I had to go through life with a handle like Cassitor Rdenrundt。 〃It was very nice of you to bring Grav Bent here； 〃 she added in the same light and empty voice。
Cassi must have been expecting a warmer wele because he stood first on one foot and then another and mumbled something which neither of us heard。 But Angelina…Engela's wele stayed at the same temperature； or perhaps dropped a degree or two as she shuffled some papers on the table in front of her。 Even through his fog the Count caught on and went out mumbling something else under his breath that I was pretty sure was one of the shorter and more unwholesome words in the local dialect。 We were alone。
〃Why did you tell all those lies about being in the Stellar Guard；〃 she asked in a quiet voice； apparently still busy at the papers。 This was my cue to smile sardonically； and flick some imaginary dust from my sleeve。
〃Well I certainly couldn't tell all those nice people what I've really been doing all these years I have been away； could I？〃 I responded with wide…eyed simplicity。
〃What were you doing。 Bent？〃 she asked and there wasn't a trace of any emotion in her voice。
〃That's really my business； isn't it；〃 I told her； matching toneless tone for tone。 〃And while we're asking questions； I would like to know who you are； and bow e you seem to throw more weight around than the great Count Cassitor？〃 I'm good at playing this kind of guessing game。 But Angy was just as good and dragged the conversation back to her own grounds。
〃Since I am in the stronger position here； I think you'll find it wise to answer my questions。 Don't be afraid of shocking roe。 You would be surprised at the things I know about。〃
No； Angelica love； I wouldn't be surprised at all。 But I couldn't just tell all without a little resistance。 〃You're the one behind this revolution idea； aren't you；〃 I said as a statement； not a question。
〃Yes；〃 she said； laying her cards on