Part 21 (2/2)

'Aye, wine!' echoed Publio , then recoiled as from a hot coal, and he shuddered

While Conan watched hirim amusement in his eyes, thehis neck up and down the corridor to be sure that no slave was loitering about

Then, returning, he took a gold vessel of wine frooblet when Conan i it with both hands, drank deep and with gusto

'Aye, it's Conan, right enough,' muttered Publio 'Man, are youthe vessel but retaining it in his hands, 'you dwell in different quarters than of old It takes an Argosseanwealth out of a little waterfront shop that stank of rotten fish and cheap wine'

'The old days are past,' ht involuntary shudder 'I have put off the past like a worn-out cloak'

'Well,' retorted Conan, 'you can't put _me_ off like an old cloak It isn't much I want of you, but that much I do want And you can't refuse s in the old days Am I such a fool that I'm not aware that this fine oes froh your shop?'

'All merchants of Messantia have dealt with the sea-rovers at one time or another,' mumbled Publio nervously

'But not with the black corsairs,' answered Conan grimly

'For Mitra's sake, be silent!' ejaculated Publio, sweat starting out on his brow His fingers jerked at the gilt-worked edge of his robe

'Well, I only wished to recall it to your mind,' answered Conan 'Don't be so fearful You took plenty of risks in the past, when you were struggling for life and wealth in that lousy little shop down by the wharves, and were hand-and-glove with every buccaneer and sler and pirate from here to the Barachan Isles Prosperity an Publio

'Meaning you're rich as hell,' snorted Conan 'Why? Why did you groealthy so much quicker than your co business in ivory and ostrich feathers, copper and skins and pearls and has froet theht in silver to the Stygians for theht them from me, at considerably less than their value, and I took them from the tribes of the Black Coast, and froians--I, and the black corsairs'

'In Mitra's naotten But what are you doing here? I a of Aquilonia was once Conan the buccaneer, in the old days But word has come southward of the overthrow of Aquilonia and the death of the king'

'My enerunted Conan

'Yet here I sit and guzzle wine of Kyros' And he suited the action to the word

Lowering the vessel, which was now nearly e I ask of you, Publio I know that you're aware of everything that goes on in Messantia I want to know if a Zingaran na, is in this city He's tall and lean and dark like all his race, and it's likely he'll seek to sell a very rare jewel'

Publio shook his head

'I have not heard of such a o in Messantia

If he is here ents will discover him'

'Good Send them to look for him And in the meantime have my horse cared for, and have food served me here in this room'

Publio assented volubly, and Conan emptied the wine vessel, tossed it carelessly into a corner, and strode to a near-by case his chest as he breathed deep of the salt air

He was looking down upon thewaterfront streets He swept the shi+ps in the harbor with an appreciative glance, then lifted his head and stared beyond the bay, far into the blue haze of the distance where sea olden seas of the south, under flarant scent of spice or palrew and dru blood, of shter Lost in his thoughts he scarcely noticed when Publio stole fro up his robe, thethe corridors until he caaunt man with a scar upon his te about this ruous To him Publio spoke abruptly: