“Through a cordon of guards? And start a brawl which could bring war with Terra—if, that is, Duke Charles and the Council backed us up, which I very strongly doubt? No,” said Duke Harald harshly, “unless my appreciation of the situation has gone completely sour, I’ve got one move and only one move left to play. I’m going to take the drug!”
And, without pause for further explanation, Düke Harald disappeared in the direction of the upper floors. He trusted his old friend to grasp the obvious, to see the need for this particular action. There were, he thought, three clear advantages to be gained.
Destruction of the evidence was a main consideration. With the embassy thus guarded, he could not hope to smuggle out the drug in any usual container; and diplomatic immunity extended only to this building, and to the person of Count Godfrey. But—could they search his blood stream or his nervous system? With concrete evidence gone, between them he and Godfrey could befog the issue thoroughly. Psychomathematical deductions might be well enough on Terra. He doubted if they would stand up in interstellar law.
Again, possession of the esper skill might be a potent weapon. He could not know; could only hope. And in the end, to face the Terrans with a fait accompli should lead at worst to stalemate. At least, some bargain might be struck—Master Elwyn was surely not inflexible.
The guest room was comfortable; luxuriously furnished, even. But Duke Harald paid more heed to the thickness and opacity of the heavy drapes than to their carefully chosen colors. The carving on the oaken door was of less moment to him than its sturdy weight and sound-absorptive qualities. Satisfied that he was safe from outside scrutiny, he set about his simple preparations.
Not, however, without some twinges of anxiety. This was, after all, an unfamiliar drug. He knew too little of its action and its properties. He had not planned to take it here, thus hastily self-administered; but only back on Arkady, after careful analysis and animal assay, and with his personal physician standing by.
But this way! He repressed a shiver, as a discreet signal from the door heralded Borrow’s entrance with the sterilamp.
“Well, Borrow,” Duke Harald smiled thinly, “do you know what this is all about?”
“No, your grace. That is, I—” the secretary paused in some confusion.
“You’re not supposed to know, but you can guess? Well, no harm in it, provided you can keep the secret.”