unconventional, are most charming. Their dress is graceful
and practical, not grotesque; their soft speech is pleasing to the ear.
Their flag is the original flag of the Republic of Texas; it is
definitely not a barbaric travesty of our own emblem. And the underlying
premises of their political system should, as far as possible, be
incorporated into the organization of the Solar League. Here politics is
an exciting and exacting game, in which only the true representative of
all the people can survive._

_DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM_

_After five years on New Texas, Andrew Jackson Hickock resigned, married
a daughter of a local rancher and became a naturalized citizen of that
planet. He is still active in politics there, often in opposition to
Solar League policies._

That didn't sound like too bad an advertisement for the planet. I was
even feeling cheerful when I turned to the next page, and:

_FINAL MESSAGE
OF THE SECOND SOLAR LEAGUE
AMBASSADOR TO
NEW TEXAS
CYRIL GODWINSON_

_Yes and no; perhaps and perhaps not; pardon me; I agree with everything
you say. Yes and no; perhaps and perhaps not; pardon me; I agree..._

_DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM_

_After seven years on New Texas, Ambassador Godwinson was recalled;
adjudged hopelessly insane._

And then:

_FINAL MESSAGE
OF THE THIRD SOLAR LEAGUE
AMBASSADOR TO NEW TEXAS
R. F. GULLIS_

_I find it very pleasant to inform you that when you are reading this, I
will be dead._

_DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM_

_Committed suicide after six months on New Texas._

I turned to the last page cautiously, found:

_FINAL MESSAGE
OF THE FOURTH SOLAR LEAGUE
AMBASSADOR TO NEW TEXAS
SILAS CUMSHAW_

_I came to this planet ten years ago as a man of pronounced and
outspoken convictions. I have managed to keep myself alive here by
becoming an inoffensive nonentity. If I continue in this course, it will
be only at the cost of my self-respect. Beginning tonight, I am going to
state and maintain positive opinions on the relation between this planet
and the Solar League._

_DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM_

_Murdered at the home of Andrew J. Hickcock. (see p. 1.)_

And that was the end of the first notebook. Nice, cheerful reading;
complete, solid briefing.

I was, frankly, almost afraid to open the second notebook. I hefted it
cautiously at first, saw that it contained only about as many pages as
the first and that those pages were sealed with a band around them.

I took a qui