Part 15 (1/2)

”Yes.”

He s.h.i.+fted himself to a more comfortable position. ”They are playing for time--so that when I fail to produce the model as I agreed, then the public will realize I am not to be trusted.”

”Exactly,” I said.

”Well, I am playing for time, also.”

He seemed so willing to discuss the thing that I grew bolder.

”What have you to gain by playing for time?” I demanded.

He stared. ”You would question me, Jac Hallen? How absurd!” He looked at Elza, as though to share with her his amazement at my temerity.

Wolfgar said suddenly to Tarrano: ”You will gain nothing.”

Tarrano's face went impa.s.sive. I understood him better now; that cold, inscrutable look often concealed his strongest emotions. He said evenly:

”I should prefer you not to address me, Wolfgar. A traitor such as you--the sound of your voice offends me.”

It struck me then as very strange--as it had for days before--that Tarrano should have failed to punish Wolfgar. I would have expected death; least of all, that Tarrano would have allowed Wolfgar to live here in the tower, in comparative ease and comfort. Tarrano's words now answered my unspoken questions. He was not looking at Wolfgar, but at Elza.

”You, Wolfgar--deserve death. You know why I cannot kill you? Why I let you stay here in the tower?” A faint, almost wistful smile parted his thin lips; he did not take his eyes from Elza.

”I am greatly handicapped, Wolfgar. The Lady Elza here would not like to have me put you to death. She would not even care to have me mistreat you. She is very tender hearted.” He raised a deprecating hand. ”Ah, Lady Elza, does that surprise you? You never told me I must be lenient with this traitor? Of course not.”

”I----” Elza began, but he stopped her.

”You see, Lady Elza, I have already learned to obey you.” He was smiling very gently. ”Learned to obey even your unspoken commands.”

I wondered how much of this att.i.tude might be sincere, and how much calculated trickery. Could Elza, indeed, control him?

She must have had much the same thought, for she said with a forced smile: ”You give me a great deal of power. If you--wish to obey me, you'll set us free--send us all to Was.h.i.+ngton.”

That amused him. ”Ah, but I cannot do that.”

She gained confidence. ”You are willing to be very gracious in things which do not inconvenience you, Tarrano. It is not very impressive.”

He looked hurt. ”You misinterpret. I will do for you anything I can. But you must remember, Lady Elza, that my judgment is better than yours. I would not let you lead us into disaster. You are a gentle little woman.

Your instincts are toward humane treatment of everyone--toward mercy rather than justice. In all such things, I shall be guided by you.

Justice--tempered with mercy. A union very, very beautiful, Lady Elza ... But, you see, beyond that--you are wrong. I am a man, and in the big things I must dominate. It is I who guide, and you who follow.

You see that, don't you?”

The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable. And my heart sank as I watched Elza. Her gaze fell, and a flush mantled her cheeks. Tarrano added quietly: ”We shall have no difficulty, you and I, Lady Elza. Each of us a place, and a duty. A destiny together....”

He broke off and rose quickly to his feet. ”Enough. I have been weak to say so much as this.”

He turned to leave us, and I became aware of a woman's figure standing in the shadows of the archway across the room. She started forward as Tarrano glanced her way. A Venus woman of the Cold Country. Yet, obviously, one of good birth and breeding. A woman of perhaps 30 years, beautiful in the Venus cast; dressed in the conventional bodice breast-plates and short skirt, with grey stockings and sandals.