"I do not wish to embarrass or discomfort people by asking such questions," Daneel says.

He hadn't expected Dirk to know what he was speaking of, not such particulars of his quest. Still, he's not exactly surprised, either. Word does travel. He's never especially make a secret of it, and nor does Ned, to his knowledge.

"I am indeed thinking of Ned. Have you spoken with him, in that case?"