"If that were so, Dr. Amadiro, then haven't you and other Globalists been slandering Dr. Fastolfe with suspicion, to a far greater extent than any small thing I have done?"
"Quite true," agreed Amadiro, "but I am an eminent Auroran and have a certain influence, while you are an Earthman and have no influence whatever. That is most unfair, I admit, and I deplore it, but that is the way the worlds are. What can we do? Besides, the accusation against Fastolfe can be maintained - and will be maintained - and slander isn't slander when it is the truth. Your mistake was to make accusations that simply can't be maintained, I'm sure you must admit that neither Mr. Gremionis nor Dr. Vasilia Aliena - nor both together - could possibly have disabled poor Jander."
"I did not formally accuse either."
"Perhaps not, but you can't hide behind the word formally, on Aurora. It's too bad Fastolfe didn't warn you of this when he brought you in to take up this investigation, this - as it now is, I'm afraid - ill-fated investigation."
Baley felt the corner of his mouth twitch as he thought that Fastolfe might indeed have warned him.
He said, "Am I to get a hearing in the matter or is it all settled?"
"Of course you will get a hearing before being condemned. We are not barbarians here on Aurora. The Chairman will consider the memo I have sent him, together with my own suggestions in the matter. He will probably consult Fastolfe as the other party intimately concerned and then arrange to meet with all three of us, perhaps tomorrow. Some decision might be reached then - or later - and it would be ratified by the full Legislature. All due process of law will be followed, I assure you."
"The letter of the law will be followed, no doubt, but what if the Chairman has already made up his mind, what if nothing I say will be accepted, and what if I the Legislature simply rubber-stamps a foregone decision? Is that possible?"
Amadiro did not exactly smile at that, but he seemed subtly amused. "You are a realist, Mr. Baley. I am pleased with that. People who dream of justice are so apt to be disappointed and they are usually such wonderful people, that one hates to see that happen."
Amadiro's glance fixed itself on Daneel again. "A remarkable job, this humaniform robot," he said. "It is astonishing how close to his vest Fastolfe has kept things. And it is a shame that Jander was lost. There Fastolfe did the unforgivable."
"Dr. Fastolfe, sir, denies that he was in any way implicated."
"Yes, Mr. Baley, of course he would. Does he say that I am implicated? Or is my implication entirely your own idea?"
Baley said deliberately, "I have no such idea. I merely wish to question you on the matter. As for Dr. Fastolfe, he is not a candidate for one of your accusations of slander. He is certain you have had nothing to do with what happened to Jander because he is quite certain, you lack the knowledge and capacity to immobilize a humaniform robot."
If Baley hoped to stir things up in that manner, he failed.
Amadiro accepted the slur with no loss of good humor and said, "In that he is right, Mr. Baley. Sufficient ability is not to be found in any roboticist - alive or dead - except for Fastolfe himself. Isn't that what he says, our modest master - of masters?"
"Yes, he does."
"Then whatever does he say happened to Jander, I wonder?"
"A random event. Purely chance."
Amadiro laughed. "Has he calculated the probability of such a random event?"
"Yes, Master Roboticist. Yet even an extremely unlikely chance might happen, especially if there were incidents that bettered the odds."
"Such as what?"
"That is what I am hoping to find out. Since you have already arranged to have me thrown off the planet, do you now intend to forestall any questioning of yourself - or may I continue my investigation until such time as my activity in that respect is legally ended? - Before you answer, Dr. Amadiro, please consider that the investigation has not as yet been legally ended and, in any hearing that may come up, whether tomorrow or later, I will be able to accuse you of refusing to answer my questions if you should insist on now ending this interview. That might influence the Chairman in his decision."
"It would not, my dear Mr. Baley. Don't imagine you can in any way interfere with me. - However, you may interview me for as long as you wish. I will cooperate fully with you, if only to enjoy the spectacle of the good Fastolfe trying uselessly to disentangle himself from his unfortunate deed. I am not extraordinarily vindictive, Mr. Baley, but the fact that Jander was Fastolfe's own creation does not give him the right to destroy it."
Baley said, "It is not legally established that this is what he has done, so that what you have just said is, at least potentially, slander. Let us put that to one side, therefore, and go on with this interview. I need information. I will ask my questions briefly and directly and, if you answer in the same way, this interview may be completed quickly."
"No, Mr. Baley. It is not you who will say the conditions for this interview," said Amadiro. "I take it that one or both of your robots is equipped to record our conversation in full."
"I believe so."
"I know so. I have a recording device of my own as well. Don't think, my good Mr. Baley, that you will lead me through a jungle of short answers to something that will serve Fastolfe's purpose. I will answer as I choose and make certain I am not misinterpreted. And my own recording will help me make it certain that I am not misinterpreted." Now, for the first time, there was the suggestion of the wolf behind Amadiro's attitude of friendliness.