He looked it over and said, “I was counting on you giving us this.”

Only the barest trace of surprise showed on Schroeder’s face but his eyes were intently watching Lake. “So you knew all the time who I was?”

“I knew.”

“Did anyone else on the Constellation know?”

“You were recognized by one of the ship’s officers. You would have been tried in two more days.”

“I see,” Schroeder said. “And since I was guilty and couldn’t be returned to Earth or Venus I’d have been executed on the Constellation .” He smiled sardonically. “And you, as second-in-command, would have been my execution’s master of ceremonies.”