He glared in concentration at Tate while the elegant little peeper examined him with a glittering eye and spoke in quick bursts: "You’re Ben Reich of Monarch. Ten billion credit firm. Think I should know you. I do. You’re involved in a death struggle with the D’Courtney Cartel. Right? You’re savagely hostile toward D’Courtney. Right? Offered merger this morning. Coded message: YYJI TTED RRCB UUFE AALK QQBA. Offer refused. Right? In desperation you have resolved to—" Tate broke off abruptly.