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A new voice sounded unexpectedly "So it was, but it is the second naood sir Of course you are The rese man stood in the doorway His eyes, widely spaced and brilliant, were taking in all of Biron with an amused sharpness He cocked his narrow face upward at Biron&039;s height and said to the girl, "Don&039;t you recognize him, too, Artemisia?"

Artemisia hurried to hi here?"

"Taking care of my interests, Artemisia Remember that if there were an assassination, I would be the closest of the Hinriads to the possible succession" Gillbret oth Hinriad winked elaborately, then added, "Oh, get the lieutenant out of here There isn&039;t any danger"

She ignored that and said, "Have you been sounding the coain?"

"But yes Would you deprive me of an amusement? It is pleasant to eavesdrop on them"

"Not if they catch you"

"The danger is part of the ga part After all, the Tyranni do not hesitate to sound thePalace We can&039;t doWell, turnabout, you know Aren&039;t you going to introduce me?"

"No, I&039;m not," she said shortly "This is none of your business"

"Then I&039;ll introduce you When I heard his na and came in" He moved past Artemisia, stepped up to Biron, inspected him with an impersonal smile, and said, "This, is Biron Farrill"

"I have said so myself," said Biron More than half his attention was upon the lieutenant, who still held his blaster in firing position

"But you have not added that you are the son of the Rancher of Widemos"

"I would have but for your interruption In any case, you&039;ve got the story now Obviously, I had to get away fro them my real name" Biron waited This was it, he felt If the nextchance

Artemisia said, "I see This is a matter for the Director You are sure there is no plot of any sort, then"

"None, Your Grace"

"Good Uncle Gil, will you remain with Mr Farrill? Lieutenant, will you come with me?"

Biron felt weak He would have liked to sit down, but no suggestion to that effect was made by Gillbret, who still inspected him with an almost clinical interest

"The Rancher&039;s son! Aht his attention doard He was tired of cautious monosyllables and careful phrases He said abruptly, "Yes, the Rancher&039;s son It is a congenital situation Can I help you in any other way?"

Gillbret showed no offense His thin face ht satisfy my curiosity You really came for Sanctuary? Here?"

"I&039;d rather discuss that with the Director, sir"

"Oh, get off it, young man You&039;ll find that very little business can be done with the Director Why do you suppose you had to deal with his daughter just now? That&039;s an aht, if you&039;ll consider it"

"Do you find everything a?"

"Why not? As an attitude toward life, it&039;s an a one It&039;s the only adjective that will fit Observe the universe, young ht as well cut your throat, since there&039;s daood in it I haven&039;t introduced myself, by the way I&039;m the Director&039;s cousin"

Biron said coldly, "Congratulations!"

Gillbret shrugged "You&039;re right It&039;s not impressive And I&039;m likely to remain just that indefinitely since there is no assassination to be expected after all"

"Unless you whip one up for yourself"

"My dear sir, your sense of huet used to the fact that nobody takes me seriously My remark was only an expression of cynicis these days, do you? Surely you cannot believe that Hinrik was always like this? He was never a great brain, but with every year he becoet! You haven&039;t seen hi When he speaks to you, reest of the Trans-Nebular Kingdoht"

Hinrik bore his dignity with the ease of experience He acknowledged Biron&039;s painstakingly cereree of condescension He said, with a trace of abruptness, "And your business with us, sir?"

Arte at her father&039;s side, and Biron noticed, with some surprise, that she was quite pretty He said, "Your Excellency, I have coood name You must know his execution was unjust"

Hinrik looked away "I knew your father slightly He was in Rhodia once or twice" He paused, and his voice quavered a bit "You are very like hiine he was And according to law Really, I don&039;t know the details"

"Exactly, Your Excellency But I would like to learn those details I am sure that my father was no traitor"

Hinrik broke in hurriedly "As his son, of course, it is understandable that you should defend your father, but, really, it is difficult to discuss such ular, in fact Why don&039;t you see Aratap?"

"I do not know him, Excellency"

"Aratap! The Commissioner! The Tyrannian Commissioner"&039;

"I have seen him and he sent me here Surely, you understand that I dare not let the Tyranni-"

But Hinrik had grown stiff His hand had wandered to his lips, as though to keep the, and his words were consequently muffled "Aratap sent you here, you say?"

"I found it necessary to tell him-"

"Don&039;t repeat what you told hi for you, Rancher-uh-Mr Farrill It is not inat me, Arta How can I pay attention to matters when you distract me?-must be consulted Gillbret! Will you see that Mr Farrill is taken care of? I will see what can be done Yes, I will consult the Executive Council The forms of law, you know Very important Very i

Arteered for a moment and touched Biron&039;s sleeve "A moment Was it true, your statement that you could pilot a spaceship?"

"Quite true," said Biron He smiled at her, and after a moment&039;s hesitation, she dimpled briefly in return

"Gillbret," she said, "I want to speak to you later"

She hurried off Biron looked after her till Gillbret tweaked at his sleeve

"I presury, perhaps thirsty, would like a wash?" asked Gillbret "The ordinary amenities of life continue, I take it?"

"Thank you, yes," said Biron The tension had almost entirely washed out of him For a moment he was relaxed and felt wonderful She was pretty Very pretty

But Hinrik was not relaxed; In his own chaht, he could not wriggle out of the inevitable conclusion It was a trap! Aratap had sent him and it was a trap!

He buried his head in his hands to quiet and deaden the pounding, and then he knehat he had to do