"He must not hear of it until after it has succeeded, for he would not let the others whom I must have go with me."
"I do not wish to know in advance how the work is to be done. Say outside that no one is to enter till I strike the shield."
The slave had scarcely gone when the Duke drew back the linen curtain whose folds fell to the ground behind him, shutting off the rear of the tent, used as a sleeping-room.
A man with long gray hair, scarcely younger than Hariowald, came forward glancing cautiously around him.
"We are alone, Ebarvin. Repeat your King's words exactly again. For consider, you must repeat them to his face, on oath, before the assembly of the people, if he deny them."
"He will not deny them," said the graybeard sorrowfully. "He is too proud to submit to you, but he is also too proud to lie."
"It is a pity," replied the Duke, curtly. "He was a fearless man."
"You speak as if he were numbered with the dead!" cried the other, shuddering.
"I do not see how he can survive. Or, do you believe he will change his choice?"
Ebarvin silently shook his head.