``I want Captain Docherty.'' He spotted Docherty coming out of a room at the far end of the corridor and called to him.

Docherty said, ``It's okay, Bonfiglio, let him by.'' They walked toward each other. ``Well?''

Griffith said, ``Hoag told me to tell you'' -- he waited until they were close; it was hideously embarrassing -- ``not to let the prime minister be alone with Mahzeer.''

Griffith looked half crocked to the captain; it would be just like him. ``Why not?''

``He claims Mahzeer's in a plot to kill the P.M..''

Docherty went taut: was it possible? Could the ambassador himself be the man on this side the prime minister feared? Not possible, he thought; the prime minister knew who his enemy was here; he wasn't going to allow himself to be led meekly to the slaughter. And if by some wild chance Mahzeer was the man, he wouldn't dare try anything now -- not after Docherty had looked in on the two of them to see that all was well. Docherty was damned if he would make a fool of himself again the way he had earlier over the laundry truck. One more muddleheaded play like that one and they'd be leading him away. Still, this had to be checked out.

``Where'd your friend Hoag get his information?'' he asked.

``Haven't the faintest, Captain.''

``Would you mind sending him up here? I'd like to talk to him.'' Troubled, he continued along the corridor, poking his head into the next office for a careful look around.