“And if I don’t choose to accept your invitation?” Outwardly relaxed, Duke Harald was alert and poised for action. The adept pressed a button on his desk and pointed to the wall. Duke Harald turned and looked. A large vision screen was lighting up, to show a narrow stretch of corridor beyond the office door. A strip of gray-green wall was visible, and a part of the carved bronze doors of the elevator. And against that wall, and before those doors, stood a pair of husky Terrans fingering needle-guns. A little self-consciously, perhaps, as though unused to such an occupation. But, for all that, with an air of full efficiency.
“I see,” said Duke Harald flatly. And he did see. Perhaps not every detail; but the major elements of the adept’s plan were now becoming clear. A form of house arrest was part of it. That, to give time for further observation of his actions, for skillful, unobtrusive questioning. Despite the adept’s confident demeanor, this implied uncertainty. And a desire to temporize: to weigh the consequence of sterner acts against a duke of Arkady. They did not know that he had been recalled, and that his influence with the council was at its lowest ebb.
Once more he blessed the famous Rule of Privacy. He had wondered how to gain admission to the Institute this night, to witness Melton’s scheduled vigil. And Master Elwyn, all unwittingly, had furnished half the answer! Now, if they but brought his lock-box over. It was ray-proof; it looked innocuous enough; and he had left a blaster openly in his bedroom.
“I am sorry,” said Master Elwyn, and his voice did seem to suggest an honest regret, “that we have had to take this course. There are reasons for it that you do not yet suspect. Nor may I give you fuller explanation at the moment. In the meantime I must ask that you remain within the confines of the Institute. And messages outside are barred. Apart from this, your status has not altered. Your attendance at your usual classes may continue.”
Duke Harald only smiled a little thinly.
“The two gentlemen outside,” said Master Elwyn, “will show you to your quarters.”
A long twilight was deepening slowly into night when Duke Harald noticed first that his “arrest” was scheduled to become more stringent.
It had not been too irksome through the daylight hours. His escort had departed after taking him to his quarters. And he had full freedom of the grounds and buildings of the Institute. He had not tried to determine the full reaches of that freedom. He had kept to a self-imposed seclusion; and had largely occupied himself with writing various formal notes of protest—-copies of which, he thought, would only reach Count Godfrey when and if the Terrans chose.
Now, however!