"Dreadfully sorry, Mr. Smith," the guard said humbly. "There's been some mistake here—we thought you were someone else. Naturally, we'll indemnify you for this inconvenience."
"That's all right," Kiley said casually. "Mistakes do happen, you know."
"This way, please. We're terribly sorry about the whole affair."
Kiley smiled as the guard led him out of the cell-block to freedom. You're a man of your word, Thaklaru, he thought. It's a deal.
Once free, Kiley had spent a very pleasant three weeks on Alpheraz VII. Thaklaru's mind was with him at all times—and with his power of instant hypnosis, all doors were open to him. It was a simple matter.
The big coup came when Kiley grew tired of the planet's pleasures. He travelled to the Emperor's palace.
The guards bowed to him as he approached. "Good afternoon, your majesty!"
Kiley smiled politely and kept on going. He walked quickly through the palace, stopping only to ask a butler where the jewel-room was.
As it turned out, the Emperor himself was in the jewel-room. "Pardon me, your majesty," Kiley said. "I'll have to have some of these, I'm afraid."