Directly beneath us upon the scarlet
sward a handful of guardsmen were stooping above a still and
prostrate form.
While we watched they lifted the figure in their arms and at
my command bore it to the audience chamber where we had been in
council. When they stretched the body at our feet we saw that it
was that of a red man in the prime of life--his metal was plain,
such as common soldiers wear, or those who wish to conceal their
identity.
"Another of Zat Arras' spies," said Hor Vastus.
"So it would seem," I replied, and then to the guard: "You may
remove the body."
"Wait!" said Xodar. "If you will, Prince, ask that a cloth and a
little thoat oil be brought."
I nodded to one of the soldiers, who left the chamber, returning
presently with the things that Xodar had requested. The black
kneeled beside the body and, dipping a corner of the cloth in the
thoat oil, rubbed for a moment on the dead face before him, Then
he turned to me with a smile, pointing to his work. I looked and
saw that where Xodar had applied the thoat oil the face was white,
as white as mine, and then Xodar seized the black hair of the corpse
and with a sudden wrench tore it all away, revealing a hairless
pate beneath.
Guardsmen and nobles pressed close about the silent witness upon
the marble floor. Many were the exclamations of astonishment and
questioning wonder as Xodar's acts confirmed the suspicion which
he had held.
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