box to Don Loris. It's a gift from me. And I want
to--consult with him about co-operation between the two of us
in ... ah ... some plans I have. Ask if I may come and talk to him."

His seven former spearmen tumbled out. They marched gleefully to the
castle gate. Hoddan saw them tantalizingly displaying large sums in cash
to the watchers above them. Thal held up the box for Don Loris. It was
the box the lawyer's clerk had turned over to him, with a tidy sum in
cash in it. The sum was partly depleted, now. Hoddan had paid off his
involuntary crew with it--had paid them, in fact, as if they'd done the
fighting they'd expected and he'd thought would be necessary. But there
was still more in it than Don Loris would have gotten from Walden for
selling him out.

The castle gate opened, as if grudgingly. The seven went in. With the
box.

Time passed. Much time. Hoddan went over the arguments he meant to use
on Don Loris. He needed to make up a very great sum, and it could be
done thus-and-so, but thus-and-so required occasional piratical raids,
which called for pirate crews, and if Don Loris would encourage his
retainers-- He could have gone to another Darthian chieftain, of course,
but he knew what kind of scoundrel Don Loris was. He'd have to find out
about another man.

* * * * *

Nearly an hour elapsed before the castle gate opened again. Two files of
spearmen marched out. There were eight men with a sergeant in command.
Hoddan did not recognize any of them. They came to the spaceboat. The
sergeant formally presented an official message. Don Loris would admit
Bron Hoddan to his presence, to hear what he had to say.

Hoddan felt excessively uncomfortable. Waiting, he'd thought about that
secret despair in the emigrant fleet. He worried about it. He was
concerned because Don Loris had not welcomed him with cordiality, now
that he'd brought back his retainers in good working order. In a sudden
gloomy premonition, he checked his stun-pistols. They needed charging.
He managed it from the lifeboat unit.

He went forebodingly toward the castle with the eight spearmen
surrounding him as cops had once surrounded him on Walden. He did not
like to be reminded of it. He frowned to himself as he went in the
castle gate, and along a long stone passage, and up stone stairs into
the great hall of state. Don Loris, as once before, sat peevishly by the
huge fireplace. This time he was almost inside it