pay for
tricking you. The Emperor of Pollux must, after all, maintain his
dignity."

Vyrtl wondered if he had detected a note of irony in the musical
voice. He marveled anew at the pleasure of listening to her. But of
course, he reminded himself, he heard his own imagined ideal of what a
lovely woman's voice should be.

"No," he said abruptly, swinging about. "I am merely going to insist
that you fulfill the terms of the agreement by remaining at my court.
I want you near me from now on."

She blinked at that.

"But, surely ... you must realize ... it is only an illusion!" she
protested.

"As am I," said Vyrtl. "A figurehead imprisoned in a maze of
formalities and so-called pleasures."

* * * * *

He saw that she could not understand what could be wrong with his
position.

"Once, when I was very young," he said, "I thought I would rule. But
fourteen planets require a whole _council_ of co-ordinators! I gave up
that idea and tried to enjoy myself."

She stared at him uncertainly. He waved a hand at the artificial
forest.

"It has been like that ever since. They fall all over themselves to
devise new ways of getting my attention and to present pleasures and
entertainment I am incapable of enjoying. I have more wealth than I
can estimate, I sometimes forget which palace I am in, even my wives
look alike by now."

"I must sympathize with Your Illustrious Sublimity."

He flung her a hard stare.

"Perhaps you ought! Even my generals and their soldiers have their
dreams--of conquest or loot. The engineer who built this dome pictures
himself famous and admired. Wilkins is proud of his influence, and
other courtiers have visions of doing away with Wilkins and replacing
him."

He stood up restlessly.

"You will laugh at me, I know--but there is little enjoyment in life
when every whim is catered to at a snap of one's fingers. What have I
to _desire_?"

"I see." She nodded slowly. "The old saying about the pleasure of
anticipation outweighing that of attainment."

"You should know. You Jursans and your scientific renaissance, your
goal of contacting Terra again."

He beckoned to Wilkins and the two guards. They ran eagerly across the
grass.

"You see?" he snorted. "Sometimes I almost wish they would ignore me!"

He looked at her and saw the blue eyes achieve their knowing, amused
smile once more.

"That's right," he said, smiling back. "Now I shall have something to