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"The prisoners, ered soldier explained "The ones you ordered arrested"

"Did I order someone arrested?" the count asked, his voice still slurred "What a re for me to do I hope I haven't inconvenienced you, my friends"

"We were a bit surprised, that's all," Silk said carefully

"I wonder why I did that" The count pondered "Iwithout a reason What have you done wrong?"

"We haven't done anything wrong, my Lord," Silk assured him

"Then ould I have you arrested? There ht, lad that's all cleared up," the count said happily "May I offer you some dinner, perhaps?"

"We've already eaten, my Lord"

"Oh" The count's face fell with disappointment "I have so few visitors"

"Perhaps your steward Y'diss may remember the reason these people were detained, ested

"Of course," the count said "Why didn't I think of that? Y'diss re Please send for him at once"

"Yes, my Lord" The soldier bowed and jerked his head curtly at one of hiswith one of the folds of histunelessly as they waited

After a few moments a door at the end of the room opened, and a man in an iridescent and intricately erossly sensual, and his head was shaved "You sent forvoice was alood of you to join us"

"It's my pleasure to serve you, my Lord," the steward said with a sinuous bow

"I ondering why I asked these friends to stop by," the count said "I seeotten Do you by any chance recall?"

"It's just a small matter, my Lord," Y'diss answered "I can easily handle it for you You need your rest You mustn't overtire yourself, you know"

The count passed a hand across his face "Now that you ued, Y'diss Perhaps you could entertain our guests while I rest a bit"

"Of course, my Lord," Y'diss said with another bow

The count shifted around in his chair and almost immediately fell asleep

"The count is in delicate health," Y'diss said with an oily smile "He seldom leaves that chair these days Let's move away a bit so that we don't disturb him"