Part 20 (1/2)

Wolfgar was not dead; but when we picked him up it was obvious that he was dying. The violet beam vanished as his body struck it--vanished with a hiss and splutter, and a puff of sulphuric smoke that mingled with the smell of burning garments and flesh.

Georg and I leaped forward. Argo was standing transfixed by surprise at what Wolfgar had done; and as the beam died, Georg was upon him.

”One moment!”

The quiet, commanding voice of Tarrano. He must have come quickly, when informed by the finders of Argo's treachery. Yet he stood now at the arcade entrance, drawn to his full height, frowning with lowered brows, but wholly without appearance of haste.

”One moment--stand aside, all of you.”

Argo cowered. The rest of us moved aside. Elza came toward me, and I put my arm around her. Poor little Elza! She was s.h.i.+vering with fright.

Tarrano seemed not to need information as to what had transpired. His eyes, roving over us, saw the lifeless, seared body of Wolfgar lying on the floor.

”Too bad,” he said. Then his gaze swung to Argo.

”Master----”

”Silence!”

There was on Tarrano's face and in his voice an expression, a tone quite new to me. A quiet grimness. More than that. A quality of deadliness--of inexorable deadliness which could well have chilled the stoutest heart that fronted it.

”Come here, Argo.” Tarrano stood quite motionless. ”Argo!”

”Master! Master, you----”

”Come!”

Argo was on the floor. Shaking with terror--for he, probably better than any of us, understood what was coming--dragged himself to Tarrano's feet.

”Stand up!”

”Master, have mercy----”

”Stand up! Are you a man?”

Argo's legs would barely support him, but he struggled to get himself erect. With a wrench, Tarrano tore the robe from Argo's chest.

”Master! Master! Have mercy!”

In Tarrano's hand I saw a needle-like piece of steel. A dagger, yet it was more like a needle.

”Master--Oh----”

Tarrano had stabbed it gently into the man's chest. A mere p.r.i.c.k into the flesh, and a tiny drop of blood oozed out.

For a moment Argo stood swaying. Eyes white-rimmed with mortal terror as he stupidly looked down at the drop of blood. A moment, then the injected poison took effect. He tottered, flung his arms above his head and fell. Lay writhing an instant; then twitching; and then quite still.

Tarrano turned away, his face impa.s.sive. ”Unfortunate. He was a good man in many ways--I shall be sorry to lose his services.” He saw me with my arm around Elza, and he frowned.

”So?”