She turned suddenly upon Erot. "Did you ever see this man before?" she demanded.
Erot rose. He was white and trembled a little. "But your majesty, he is only a common warrior," he countered; "I may have seen him often, yet have forgotten him; that would not be strange, I see so many of them."
"And you," the Queen addressed a young noble standing near, "have you ever seen this man before?"
"Often," replied the noble; "he was a member of the palace guard and in my company."
"How long has he been attached to the palace?" demanded Nemone.
"Not a month, your majesty."
"And before that? Do you know anything about his prior service?"
"He was attached to the retinue of a noble, your majesty," replied the young officer hesitantly.
"What noble?" demanded Nemone.
"Erot," replied the witness in a low voice.