"Well, then, good for her. If she refused Gremionis, she showed good taste."
"You knew there was no 'if' about it. You knew she would.
"Still - what of it?"
"Repeated offers to her would mean that Gremionis would be in Gladia's establishment frequently, that he would cling to her."
"One last time. Well?"
"And in Gladia's establishment was a very unusual object, one of the two humaniform robots in existence, Jander Panell."
Vasilia hesitated. Then, "What are you driving at?"
"I think it struck you that if, somehow, the humaniform robot were killed under circumstances that would implicate Dr. Fastolfe, that could be used as a weapon - to force the secret of the humaniform positronic brain out of him. Gremionis, annoyed over Gladia's persistent refusal to accept him and given the opportunity by his constant presence at Gladia's establishment, could be induced to seek a fearful revenge by killing the robot.
Vasilia blinked rapidly. "That poor barber might have twenty such motives, and twenty such opportunities and it wouldn't matter. He wouldn't know how to order a robot to shake hands with any efficiency. How would he manage to come within a light-year of imposing mental freeze - out on a robot?"
"Which now," said Baley softly, "finally brings us to the point, a point I think you have been anticipating, for you have somehow restrained yourself from throwing me out because you had to make sure whether I had this point in mind or not. What I'm saying is that Gremionis did the job, with the help of this Robotics Institute, working through you."
Chapter 10. AGAIN VASILIA
40
It was as though a hyperwave drama had come to a halt in a holographic still.
None of the robots moved, of course, but neither did Baley and neither did Dr. Vasilia Aliena. Long seconds - abnormally long ones - passed, before Vasilia let out her breath and, very slowly, rose to her feet.
Her face had tightened itself into a humorless smile and her voice was low. "You are saying, Earthman, that I am an accessory in the destruction of the humaniform robot?"
Baley said, "Something of the sort had occurred to me, Doctor."
"Thank you for the thought. The interview is over and you will leave." She pointed to the door.
Baley said, "I'm afraid I do not wish to."
"I don't consult your wishes, Earthman."
"You must, for how can you make me leave against my wishes?"
"I have robots who, at my request, will put you out politely but firmly and without hurting anything but your self-esteem - if you have any."
"You have but one robot here. I have two that will not allow that to happen."
"I have twenty on instant call."
Baley said, "Dr. Vasilia, please understand! You were surprised at seeing Daneel. I suspect that, even though you work at the Robotics Institute, where hunianiform robots are the first order of business, you have never actually seen a completed and functioning one. Your robots, therefore, haven't seen one, either. Now look at Daneel. He looks human. He looks more human than any robot who has ever existed, except for the dead Jander. To your robots, Daneel will surely look human. He will know how to present an order in such a way that they will obey him in preference, perhaps, to you."
Vasilia said, "I can, if necessary, summon twenty human beings from within the Institute who will put you out, perhaps with a little damage, and your robots, even Daneel, will not be able to interfere effectively."
"How do you intend to call them, since my robots are not going to allow you to move? They have extraordinarily quick reflexes."
Vasilia showed her teeth in something that could not be called a smile. "I cannot speak for Daneel, but I've known Giskard for most of my life. I don't think he will do anything to keep me from summoning help and I imagine he will keep Daneel from interfering, too."
Baley tried to keep his voice from trembling as he skated on ever-thinner ice - and knew it. He said, "Before you do anything, perhaps you might ask Giskard what he will do if you and I give conificting orders."
"Giskard?" said Vasilia with supreme confidence.
Giskard's eyes turned full on Vasilia and he said, with an odd timbre to his voice, "Little Miss, I am compelled to protect Mr. Baley. He takes precedence."
"Indeed? By whose order? By this Earthman's? This stranger's?"
Giskard said, "By Dr. Han Fastolfe's order."
Vasilia's eyes flashed and she slowly sat down on the stool again. Her hands, resting in her lap, trembled and she said through lips that scarcely moved, "He's even taken you away."
"If that is not enough, Dr. Vasilia," said Daneel, speaking suddenly, of his own accord, "I, too, would place Partner Elijah's welfare above yours."
Vasilia looked at Daneel with bitter curiosity. "Partner Elijah? Is that what you call him?"
"Yes, Dr. Vasilia. My choice in this matter - the Earthman over you - arises not only out of Dr. Fastolfe's instructions, but because the Earthman and I are partners in this investigation and because - " Daneel paused as though puzzled by what he was about to say, and then said it anyway, " - we are friends."
Vasilia said, "Friends? An Earthman and a humaniform robot? Well, there is a match. Neither quite human."
Baley said, sharply, "Nevertheless bound by friendship. Do not, for your own sake, test the force of our - " Now it was he who paused and, as though to his own surprise, completed the sentence impossibly, " - love."
Vasilia turned to Baley. "What do you want?"
"Information. I have been called to Aurora - this World of the Dawn - to straighten out an event that does not seem to have an easy explanation, one in which Dr. Fastolfe stands falsely accused, with the possibility, therefore, of terrible consequences for your world and mine. Daneel and Giskard understand this situation well and know that nothing but the First Law at its fullest and most immediate can take precedence over my efforts to solve the mystery. Since they have heard what I have said and know that you might possibly be an accessory to the deed, they understand that they must not allow this interview to end. Therefore, I say again, don't risk the actions they may be forced to take if you refuse to answer my questions. I have accused you of being an accessory in the murder of Jander Panell. Do you deny that accusation or not? You must answer."