But," persisted Jaltor, "you did not think it necessary that you learn
if your friend--your _brother_, as you said a moment ago--had been
injured in that attempt?"

"I was assured you were not even scratched," Garlud replied quietly.

"Humph!" Jaltor paced up and down a time or two, his face working, the
great hands opening and closing spasmodically. Abruptly he stopped in
front of the other and bent until his face almost touched Garlud's.

"Before you walked into this room, if anyone had asked for your opinion
of Heglar what would you have said?"

"That I knew him well and liked and respected him."

"Would you have said he was an honorable man?"

"Certainly."

"Have you ever known him to tell a lie?"

"Not to my knowledge."

"Does he have any reason to hate you?"

"None that I know of."

"Have you any idea why he tried to kill me?"

"None. I am completely surprised that he tried to do so."

"Then why," Jaltor thundered suddenly, "did he say his attempt to kill
me was engineered by _you_?"

Garlud met his angry glare without visible emotion. "I can hardly be
expected to answer that question, Most-High, since this is the first I
have heard of such a charge."

"Then Heglar lied in so naming you?"

"He--is mistaken."

Jaltor snorted. "Don't bandy words with me! When one man says he talked
with another about killing a third, he cannot be _mistaken_. He is
either telling the truth or lying. Which is it, in this case?"

"If Heglar's mind was clear at the time he so accused me, then he lied!"

"But my good Garlud," cried Jaltor, his reasoning tone a mockery, "you
told me only a moment ago that to your knowledge Heglar is an honorable
man and does not tell lies."

"Then it must be," Garlud said, openly serene, "that he has started to
tell them now. Either that or his mind has become affected by his
disease. It is common knowledge that there is a sickness in his throat
and he has only a few moons of life remaining."

* * * * *

Jaltor turned on his heel and began his pacing anew. The four guards
remained stiffly at attention near the door, their eyes fixed unseeingly
on the opposite wall, their ears obviously hearing none of this. Against
the far wall the two attendants continued their unceasing efforts to
bring consciousness and comfort to the old man on the bed.

Without pausing in his pacing, Jaltor said, his voice more subdued now:
"It is useless to throw doubt on H