He could not help smiling at his own complete haplessness, both now and 
on the night in question. "I will concede that my recent trips to the Leased 
Territories have not left me disposed to make any more." This comment produced 
just the right sort of clubby, knowing smiles from his interlocutors. Hackworth 
continued, "I saw no reason to report the mugging to Atlantan 
authorities—"