Чужак в чужой стране

           Berquistthrewupbothhandsandlookedhelpless.

           "IwanttoseeSmith,DoIseehim,ordon’tI?"

           "Ben,let’sfindaquietplacewherewecantalkoveralong,tallglass.Youcanaskmeanythingyouwantto."

           "Idon’twanttoaskyouanything;IwanttoseeSmith.Bytheway,thisismyattorney,MarkFrisby-Biddleamp;Frisby."Aswascustomary,BendidnotintroducetheFairWitness;theyallpretendedthathewasnotpresent.

           "I’vemetFrisby,"Berquistacknowledged."How’syourfather,Mark?Sinusesstillgivinghimfits?"

           "Aboutthesame."

           "ThisfoulWashingtonclimate.Well,comealong,Ben.You,too,Mark."

           "Holdit,"saidCaxton."Idon’twanttointerviewyou,Gil.IwanttoseeValentineMichaelSmith.I’mhereasamemberofthepress,directlyrepresentingthePostsyndicateandindirectlyrepresentingovertwohundredmillionreaders.DoIseehim?IfIdon’t,saysooutloudandstateyourlegalauthorityforrefusingme."

           Berquistsighed."Mark,willyoutellthiskeyholehistorianthathecan’tgobustingintoasickman’sbedroomjustbecausehehasasyndicatedcolumn?ValentineSmithmadeonepublicappearancejustlastnight-againsthisphysician’sadviceImightadd.Themanisentitledtopeaceandquietandachancetobuilduphisstrengthandgetoriented.Thatappearancelastnightwasenough,morethanenough."

           "Therearerumors,"Caxtonsaidcarefully,"thattheappearancelastnightwasafake."

           Berquiststoppedsmiling.