 Why did Moynihan shoot Stanley?
But now, on Mercury, he was selling his guns into the weirdest of all his exploits—gambling his life against the soft touch of a woman's lips. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] Without looking up, he said: "Have you spotted him?" The pianist swung around on his stool, lifted his black eyes to the gate leading to the street. "I did not want to call you in, Jaro Moynahan." The revolution is scheduled to break during the Festival of the Rains. If it does, the Terrestrials here will be massacred. Jaro Moynahan wiped the sweat from his forehead with a fine duraweb handkerchief. "There is one man; he is the leader, the very soul of the revolution. The Mercurians worship him. Jaro Moynahan refilled their empty glasses. The girl started, glanced at the pianist, said with a shiver: "We can't locate Karfial Hodes. "Ah," said Jaro Moynahan; "so that's the way it is." One moment the garden was glowing in light, the next the hot black night swooped down on the revelers, pressing against their eyes like dark wool. Jaro Moynahan slipped sideways from the table. Jaro Moynahan sat quietly back down and poured himself another glass of Latonka. Peet controlled the Latonka trade for which there was a tremendous demand throughout the Universe. Had the rebels abducted her. If the girl had been abducted, only Mercurians could have engineered it in the dark; and the Mercurians were a clannish lot. Back on the narrow alley-like street Jaro Moynahan headed for his hostelry. Somewhere in those rat-runs was Karfial Hodes, the revolutionist, and the girl. Jaro Moynahan In the East a sullen red glow stained the heavens like the reflection of a fire. Once back in his room, Jaro Moynahan stripped off his clothes, unbuckled a shoulder holster containing a compressed air slug gun, stepped under the shower. He had fought in the deadly little wars of the Moons of Jupiter for years, then the Universal Debacle of 3368, after that the Martian Revolution as well as dozens of skirmishes between the Federated Venusian States. Why, at this time when the Earth Congress was about to grant them self-government, should they stage a revolution? Unless Karfial Hodes is stopped immediately there will be a bloody uprising all over the planet during the Festival of the Rains. "There are many of us here, Mercurians as well as Earthmen, who recognize the danger.
 Stanley tried to poison him.
 It was an accident.  Stanley tried to poison him.  Stanley was protecting Albert Peet.  He was hired to shoot Stanley.