II
Pan Pascoglu came to Magnus Ridolph in an extremity of emotion. "Mr. Ridolph, I know you're here on vacation, but you've got to help me out. Someone killed poor Bonfils dead as a mackerel, but who it was - " He held out his hands. "I can't stand for such things here, naturally."
Magnus Ridolph pulled at his little white beard. "Surely there is to be some sort of official inquiry?"
"That's what I'm seeing you about!" Pascoglu threw himself into a chair. "The Hub's outside all jurisdiction. I'm my own law - within certain limits, of course. That is to say, if I were harboring criminals, or running vice, someone would interfere. But there's nothing like that here. A drunk, a fight, a swindle - we take care of such things quietly. We've never had a killing. It's got to be cleaned up!"
Magnus Ridolph reflected a moment or two. "I take it you have no criminological equipment?"
"You mean those truth machines, and breath-detectors and cell-matchers? Nothing like that. Not even a fingerprint pad."
"I thought as much," sighed Magnus Ridolph. "Well, I can hardly refuse your request. May I ask what you intend to do with the criminal after I apprehend her - or him?"
Pascoglu jumped to his feet. Clearly the idea had not occurred to him. He held out his clenched hands. "What should I do? I'm not equipped to set up a law court. I don't want to just shoot somebody."
Magnus Ridolph spoke judiciously. "The question may resolve itself. Justice, after all, has no absolute values."
Pascoglu nodded passionately. "Right! Let's find out who did it. Then we'll decide the next step."
"Where is the body?" asked Magnus Ridolph.
"Still in the cottage, just where the maid found it."
"It has not been touched?"
"The doctor looked him over. I came directly to you."
"Good. Let us go to Bonfils' cottage."
Bonfils' "cottage" was a globe far out on the uttermost web, perhaps five hundred yards by tube from the main lobby.
The body lay on the floor beside a white chaise-longue - lumpy, pathetic, grotesque. In the center of the forehead was a burn; no other marks were visible. The three paleolithics were confined in an ingenious cage of flexible splines, evidently collapsible. The cage of itself could not have restrained the muscular savages; the splines apparently were charged with electricity.
Beside the cage stood a thin young man, either inspecting or teasing the paleolithics. He turned hastily when Pascoglu and Magnus Ridolph stepped into the cottage.
Pascoglu performed the introductions. "Dr. Scanton, Magnus Ridolph."
Magnus Ridolph nodded courteously. "I take it, doctor, that you have made at least a superficial examination?"
"Sufficient to certify death."
"Could you ascertain the time of death?"
"Approximately midnight."
Magnus gingerly crossed the room, looked down at the body. He turned abruptly, rejoined Pascoglu and the doctor, who waited by the door.
"Well?" asked Pascoglu anxiously.
"I have not yet identified the criminal," said Magnus Ridolph. "However, I am almost grateful to poor Bonfils. He has provided what appears to be a case of classic purity."
Pascoglu chewed at his mustache. "Perhaps I am dense - "
"A series of apparent truisms may order our thinking," said Magnus Ridolph. "First, the author of this act is currently at the Hub."
"Naturally," said Pascoglu. "No ships have arrived or departed."
"The motives to the act lie in the more or less immediate past."
Pascoglu made an impatient movement. Magnus Ridolph held up his hand, and Pascoglu irritably resumed the attack on his mustache.
"The criminal in all likelihood had had some sort of association with Bonfils."
Pascoglu said, "Don't you think we should be back in the lobby? Maybe someone will confess, or - "
"All in good time," said Magnus Ridolph. "To sum up, it appears that our primary roster of suspects will be Bonfils' shipmates en route to the Hub."
"He came on the Maulerer Princeps; I can get the debarkation list at once." And Pascoglu hurriedly departed the cottage.
Magnus Ridolph stood in the doorway studying the room. He turned to Dr. Scanton. "Official procedure would call for a set of detailed photographs; I wonder if you could make these arrangements?"
"Certainly. I'll do them myself."
"Good. And then - there would seem no reason not to move the body."
III
Magnus Ridolph returned along the tube to the main lobby, where he found Pascoglu at the desk.
Pascoglu thrust forth a paper. "This is what you asked for."
Magnus Ridolph inspected the paper with interest. Thirteen identities were listed:
1. Lester Bonfils, with a. Abu b. Toko c. Homup
2. Viamestris Diasporus
3. Thorn 199
4. Fodor Impliega
5. Fodor Banzoso
6. Scriagl
7. Hercules Starguard
8. Fiamella of Thousand Candles
9. Clan Kestrel, 14th Ward, 6th Family, 3rd Son
10. (no name)
"Ah," said Magnus Ridolph. "Excellent. But there is a lack. I am particularly interested in the planet of origin of these persons."
"Planet of origin?" Pascoglu complained. "What is the benefit of this?"
Magnus Ridolph inspected Pascoglu with mild blue eyes. "I take it that you wish me to investigate this crime?"
"Yes, of course, but - "
"You will then cooperate with me, to the fullest extent, with no further protest or impatient ejaculations." And Magnus Ridolph accompanied the words with so cold and clear a glance that Pascoglu wilted and threw up his hands. "Have it your own way. But I still don't understand - "
"As I remarked, Bonfils has been good enough to provide us a case of definitive clarity."
"It's not clear to me," Pascoglu grumbled. He looked at the list. "You think the murderer is one of these?"
"Possibly, but not necessarily. It might be me, or it might be you. Both of us have had recent contact with Bonfils."
Pascoglu grinned sourly. "If it were you, please confess now and save me the expense of your fee."
"I fear it is not quite so simple. But the problem is susceptible to attack. The suspects - the persons on this list and any other Bonfils had dealt with recently - are from different worlds. Each is steeped in the traditions of his unique culture. Police routine might solve the case through the use of analyzers and detection machines. I hope to achieve the same end through cultural analysis."
Pascoglu's expression was that of a castaway on a desert island watching a yacht recede over the horizon. "As long as the case gets solved," he said in a hollow voice, "and there's no notoriety."
"Come, then," said Magnus Ridolph briskly. "The worlds of origin."
The additions were made; Magnus Ridolph scrutinized the list again. He pursed his lips, pulled at his white beard. "I must have two hours for research. Then - we interview our suspects."
IV
Two hours passed, and Pan Pascoglu could wait no longer. He marched furiously into the library, to find Magnus Ridolph gazing into space, tapping the table with a pencil. Pascoglu opened his mouth to speak, but Magnus Ridolph turned his head, and the mild blue, gaze seemed to operate some sort of relay within Pascoglu's head. He composed himself, and made a relatively calm inquiry as to the state of Magnus Ridolph's investigations.
"Well enough," said Magnus Ridolph. "And what have you learned?"
"Well - you can cross Scriagl and the Clan Kestrel chap off the list. They were gambling in the game-room and have foolproof alibis."
Magnus Ridolph said thoughtfully, "It is of course possible that Bonfils met an old enemy here at the Hub."