«If I survive it, I think we won't have much trouble getting the money,» said Blade. «This is going to be a big step forward.»

«Are you both quite through telling me things I already know?» said J testily. Blade and Leighton looked at each other, then nodded. «Very well. Go ahead, Leighton, and good luck to both you and Richard.»

Blade caught up with J in the parking lot. The older man was standing with his bowler hat in one hand and his rolled-up umbrella in the other. He turned as he recognized Blade's step behind him.

«Ah, Richard. Thank you for playing peacemaker. I sometimes wonder if I'm getting too old for my job. Ten years ago I'd never have let someone like Leighton bait me into losing my temper.»

«There isn't anybody like Leighton, when it comes to a sharp tongue,» said Blade mildly. «Or if there is I never want to meet him. Besides, ten years ago we weren't involved in anything quite as important as the Project.»

«No, we weren't,» said J. «But I still shouldn't have lost my temper. And you shouldn't have agreed so enthusiastically to going along with Leighton's brainstorm. It's only going to encourage him to be careless-some other time, if not this one. Richard, I have to ask you. Do you think your judgment is slipping? I'd hardly blame you if it was, considering all that you've been through, but…» He let his voice trail off.

Blade nodded. He understood J's reason for the question. Apart from his personal affection for Blade, J was worried about his sense of self-preservation. The popular notion about secret agents being daredevils was a long way from the truth. They had to be brave, of course, and never hesitate to take necessary risks. They had to be equally firm against unnecessary ones, and good at telling the two apart. Field agents who didn't learn this were dangerous to themselves, their comrades, their informants, and the security of their organizations. Blade knew of cases where an agent's own people terminated him because he was too fond of unnecessary risks. Sometimes even an experienced agent like Blade started losing his grip, and if that was the case now, the sooner J knew the better.