«I take it, then,» he remarked, «that the Government is satisfied with the service rendered.»

«That is putting it conservatively,» Beaumont assured him. «To be perfectly truthful, I did not think you could do so much. You seem to have thought of everything. The Callistan delegation is out now, riding around and seeing the sights in one of the little tanks you had prepared. They are delighted. Confidentially, I think we can depend on their vote in the coming sessions.»

«Gravity shields working all right, eh?»

«Perfectly. I stepped into their sightseeing tank before we turned it over to them. I was as light as the proverbial feather. Too light – I was very nearly spacesick.» He smiled in wry amusement. «I entered the Jovian apartments, too. That was quite another matter.»

«Yes, it would be,» Clare agreed. «Two and a half times normal weight is oppressive to say the least.»

«It's a happy ending to a difficult task. I must be going. Oh, yes, one other little matter – I've discussed with Doctor O'Neil the possibility that the Administration may be interested in other uses for his new development. In order to simplify the matter it seems desirable that you provide me with a quitclaim to the O'Neil effect from General Services.»

Clare gazed thoughtfully at the «Weeping Buddha» and chewed his thumb. «No,» he said slowly, «No. I'm afraid that would be difficult.»

«Why not?» asked Beaumont. «It avoids the necessity of adjudication and attendant waste of time. We are prepared to recognize your service and recompense you.»

«Hmmm. I don't believe you fully understand the situation, Mr. Beaumont. There is a certain amount of open territory between our contract with Doctor O'Neil and your contract with us. You asked of us certain services and certain chattels with which to achieve that service. We provide them – for a fee. All done. But our contract with Doctor O'Neil made him a full-time employee for the period of his employment. His research results and the patents embodying them are the property of General Services.»

«Really?» said Beaumont. «Doctor O'Neil has a different impression.»

«Doctor O'Neil is mistaken. Seriously, Mr. Beaumont – you asked us to develop a siege gun, figuratively speaking, to shoot a gnat. Did you expect us, as businessmen, to throw away the siege gun after one shot?»

«No, I suppose not. What do you propose to do?»

«We expect to exploit the gravity modulator commercially. I fancy we could get quite a good price for certain adaptations of it on Mars.»

«Yes. Yes, I suppose you could. But to be brutally frank, Mr. Clare, I am afraid that is impossible. It is a matter of imperative public policy that this development be limited to terrestrials. In fact, the administration would find it necessary to intervene and make it government monopoly.»

«Have you considered how to keep O'Neil quiet?»

«In view of the change in circumstances, no. What is your thought?»

«A corporation, in which he would hold a block of stock and be president. One of our bright young men would be chairman of the board.» Clare thought of Carson. «There would be stock enough to go around,» he added, and watched Beaumont's face.

Beaumont ignored the bait. «I suppose that this corporation would be under contract to the Government – its sole customer?»

«That is the idea.»

«Mmmm ... yes, it seems feasible. Perhaps I had better speak with Doctor O'Neil.»

«Help yourself.»

Beaumont got O'Neil on the screen and talked with him in low tones. Or, more properly, Beaumont's tones, were low. O'Neil displayed a tendency to blast the microphone. Clare sent for Francis and Grace and explained to them what had taken place.

Beaumont turned away from the screen. «The Doctor wishes to speak with you, Mr. Clare.»

O'Neil looked at him frigidly. «What is this claptrap I've had to listen to, sir? What's this about the O'Neil effect being your property?»

«It was in your contract, Doctor. Don't you recall?»

«Contract! I never read the damned things. But I can tell you this: I'll take you to court. I'll tie you in knots before I'll let you make a fool of me that way.»

«Just a moment, Doctor, please!» Clare soothed. «We have no desire to take advantage of a mere legal technicality, and no one disputes your interest. Let me outline what I had in mind – « He ran rapidly over the plan. O'Neil listened, but his expression was still unmollified at the conclusion.

«I'm not interested,» he said gruffly. «So far as I am concerned the Government can have the whole thing. And I'll see to it.»

«I had not mentioned one other condition,» added Clare.

«Don't bother.»

«I must. This will be just a matter of agreement between gentlemen, but it is essential. You have custody of the 'Flower of Forgetfulness.' »

O'Neil was at once on guard. «What do you mean, 'custody.' I own it. Understand me – own it.»

» 'Own it,' « repeated Clare. «Nevertheless, in return for the concessions we are making you with respect to your contract, we want something in return.»

«What?» asked O'Neil. The mention of the bowl had upset his confidence.

«You own it and you retain possession of it. But I want your word that I, or Mr. Francis, or Miss Cormet, may come look at it from time to time – frequently.»

O'Neil looked unbelieving. «You mean that you simply want to come to look at it?»

«That's all.»

«Simply to enjoy it?»

«That's right.»

O'Neil looked at him with new respect. «I did not understand you before, Mr. Clare. I apologize. As for the corporation nonsense – do as you like. I don't care. You and Mr. Francis and Miss Cormet may come to see the 'Flower' whenever you like. You have my word.»

«Thank you, Doctor O'Neil – for all of us.» He switched off as quickly as could be managed gracefully.

Beaumont was looking at Clare with added respect, too. «I think,» he said, «that the next time I shall not interfere with your handling of the details. I'll take my leave. Adieu, gentlemen – and Miss Cormet.»

When the door had rolled down behind him Grace remarked, «That seems to polish it off.»

«Yes,» said Clare. «We've 'walked his dog' for him; O'Neil has what he wants; Beaumont got what he wanted, and more besides.»

«Just what is he after?»

«I don't know, but I suspect that he would like to be first president of the Solar System Federation, if and when there is such a thing. With the aces we have dumped in his lap, he might make it. Do you realize the potentialities of the O'Neil effect?»

«Vaguely,» said Francis.

«Have you thought about what it will do to space navigation? Or the possibilities it adds in the way of colonization? Or its recreational uses? There's a fortune in that alone.»

«What do we get out of it?»

«What do we get out of it? Money, old son. Gobs and gobs of money. There's always money in giving people what they want.» He glanced up at the Scottie dog trademark.

«Money,» repeated Francis. «Yeah, I suppose so.»

«Anyhow,» added Grace, «we can always go look at the 'Flower.' »