Marco made no answer but got out of bed and began to slip on his clothes.
Lazarus touched The Rat.
The Rat was as ready as Marco and sat upright as he had done.
"Come down with the young Master," he commanded. "It is necessary that you should be seen and spoken to." And having given the order he went away.
No one heard the shoeless feet of the two boys as they stole down the stairs.
An elderly man in ordinary clothes, but with an unmistakable face, was sitting quietly talking to Loristan who with a gesture called both forward.
"The Prince has been much interested in what I have told him of your game," he said in his lowest voice. "He wishes to see you make your sketches, Marco."
Marco looked very straight into the Prince's eyes which were fixed intently on him as he made his bow.
"His Highness does me honor," he said, as his father might have said it. He went to the table at once and took from a drawer his pencils and pieces of cardboard.
"I should know he was your son and a Samavian," the Prince remarked.