of the Institute. You can't be dangerous, but you can be annoying - and I don't want that either. So, if I can, I'll put an end to the annoyance - but I'll do that in reasonable fashion, in gentle fashion, even. If you were actually dangerous - "
"What could you do, Dr. Amadiro, in that case?"
"I could have you seized and imprisoned until you were evicted. I don't think Aurorans generally would worry overmuch about what I might do to an Earthman."
Baley said, "You are trying to browbeat me and that won't work. You know very well you could not lay a hand on me with my robots present."
Amadiro said, "Does it occur to you that I have a hundred robots within call? What would yours do against them?"
"All hundred could not harm me. They cannot distinguish between Earthmen and Aurorans. I am human within the meaning of the Three Laws."
"They could hold you quite immobilized - without harming you - while your robots were destroyed."
"Not so," said Baley. "Giskard can hear you and, if you make a move to summon your robots, Giskard will have you immobilized. He moves very quickly and, once that happens, your robots will be helpless, even if you manage to call them. They will understand that any move against me will result in harm to you."
"You mean that Giskard will hurt me?"
"To protect me from harm? Certainly. He will kill you, if absolutely necessary."
"Surely you don't mean that."
"I do," said Baley. "Daneel and Giskard have orders to protect me. The First Law, in this respect, has been strengthened with all the skill Dr. Fastolfe can bring to the job - and with respect to me, specifically. I haven't been told this in so many words, but I'm quite sure it's true. If my robots must choose between harm to you and harm to me, Earthman though I am, it will be easy for them to choose harm to you. I imagine you are well aware that Dr. Fastolfe is not very eager to ensure your well-being."
Amadiro chuckled and a grin wreathed his face. "I'm sure you're right in every respect, Mr. Baley, but it is good to have you say so. You know, my good sir, that I am recording this conversation also - I told you so at the start - and I'm glad of it. It is possible that Dr. Fastolfe will erase the last part of this conversation, but I assure you I won't. It is clear from what you have said that he is quite prepared to devise a robotic way of doing harm to me - even kill me, if he can manage that whereas it cannot be said from anything in this conversation or any other - that I plan any physical harm to him whatever or even to you. Which of us is the villain, Mr. Baley? - I think you have established that, and I think, then, that this is a good place at which to end the interview."
He rose, still smiling, and Baley, swallowing hard, stood up as well, almost automatically.
Amadiro said, "I still have one thing to say, however. It has nothing to do with our little contretemps here on Aurora - Fastolfe's and mine. Rather, with your own problem, Mr. Baley."
"My problem?"
"Perhaps I should say Earth's problem. I imagine, that you feel very anxious to save poor Fastolfe from his own folly because you think that will give your planet a chance for expansion. - Don't think so, Mr. Baley. You are quite wrong, rather arsyvarsy, to use a vulgar expression I've come across in some of your planet's historical novels."
"I'm not familiar with that phrase," said Baley stiffly.
"I mean you have the situation reversed. You see, when my view wins out in the legislature - and note that I say 'when' and not 'if' - Earth will be forced to remain in her own planetary system, I admit, but that will actually be to her benefit. Aurora will have the prospect of expansion and of establishing an endless empire. If we then know that Earth will merely be Earth, and never anything more, of what concern will she be to us? With the Galaxy at our disposal we will not begrudge Earthpeople their one world. We would even be disposed to make Earth as comfortable a world for her people, as would be practical.
"On the other hand, Mr. Baley, if Aurorans do what Fastolfe asks and allow Earth to send out