She went back into the hall. There were not more than fifteen or twenty people there altogether, most of Elvair-ka-Virrion's guests having, as it seemed, dispersed about the big house for the same purpose as Eud-Ecachlon. A little group of four or five young men, all wearing Leopard cognizances, were talking with some girls under a cluster of lamps at one end of the dais. From their unhurried, easy gestures and general air of relaxation, Maia could perceive that they had already satisfied their desire and were now probably having a friendly drink before going home. That would be the right sort of company for her, she thought, to keep out of harm's way until Occula returned.

While she stood hesitating one of the young men, glancing round and catching sight of her at the foot of the steps, came over and began talking to her. Answering rather abstractedly, she allowed him to bring her some wine and then lead her across to join his companions.

"You're a friend of that black girl, aren't you?" asked a second young man, whom she remembered having seen with Elvair-ka-Virrion earlier in the evening. "Weren't you both with the Urtans during supper?"

She nodded, and at once all the young men showed interest.

"Are you together, then? Whose household are you in?"

"I saw you at the Rains banquet, but I don't remember seeing her. She's really amazing!"

"How long has she been in Bekla? What's her name?"

"Perhaps you can tell us, then: was there really a knife?"

They continued for some time, the girls almost as inquisitive as the men. Maia did her best to create an hnpres-

sion of Occula as a smoldering, passionate girl from a far country, possessed of virtually supernatural powers. She must have been fairly successful, for two or three of the young men, apparently too much intrigued to feel restrained even by the presence of their partners, asked whether Occula was allowed to accept invitations and what kind of lygol she usually received. It was clear that they were afraid of the High Counselor and daunted to learn that whatever her price, Occula's favors could be obtained only through a request to him or to Terebinthia. Maia felt that none of them was interested in herself. Determined to improve Occula's chances all she could, she was just suggesting that one possible approach might be through Jarvil, the porter, when she felt a touch on her arm. Looking round, she was surprised to see Bayub-Otal. Without speaking to any of the others he murmured, "Can you spare me a few more moments, please?"

Before she had even time to excuse herself to the young men, he had turned away. Following him across the hall, she overtook him at the foot of the steps and for the second time they went out together through the colonnade.

For a while he said nothing, walking slowly along the corridor as though abstracted, his eyes upon the ground. Just as she was plucking up courage to ask what was on his mind, he asked, "Have you enjoyed this evening?"

Disappointed as she was-and particularly with him- the inquiry vexed her. "A slave-girl doesn't answer a question like that, my lord. If you have, then I have."

"So you never allow yourself to express any sincere feelings? My mother did, in your position." He smiled slightly. "That's why I'm here."

Now she felt afraid to have spoken out sharply. His bad opinion might well do her harm. "I'm sorry, my lord: I didn't mean to speak out of turn. Yes, I've very much enjoyed meeting you and Lord Eud-Ecachlon, and so has my friend, I'm sure."

"Your friend? Oh, the black girl-where is she?"

"With Lord Eud-Ecachlon."

He threw back his head for a moment, expelling his breath with a sound suggestive of contempt.

"For money, I suppose."

"Well, yes, he'll give her a lygol, my lord, I expect, don't you? It's the custom, after all."

"Oh, naturally! Everything in Bekla's to be bought and

sold, isn't it? After all, they paid Durakkon to murder Senda-na-Say, didn't they? And Karnat's price was Suba."

Maia looked quickly over her shoulder. " T'ain't rightly for me to say it, my lord, but p'raps you ought to be more careful, just. I wouldn't want you to speak out of turn and end up in trouble."

"You're right, of course, Maia. Foolish to let one's tongue run away to no purpose except the relief of feelings better suppressed. Well, and so they brought you up from Ser-relind to Bekla to learn a trade. Are you learning it?"

His sarcasm was plain. She bit her lip.

"What else can I do, my lord? Whatj's the good o' talking to me like that?"

"None, I dare say. But I'm one person who's not going to advance your education. You'll get no lygol out of me."

She blushed with anger, wondering how far a slave-girl could safely go in retorting to such an insult.

Suddenly he stopped in his pacing and turned to face her. "Would you like to see me again?"

He seemed to be expecting a serious answer. She could not tell what to make of it and, confused, could find no reply. After a few moments she sat down on a bench against the wall. He made no move to join her, merely leaning against a pillar and looking unsmilingly down at her as he waited for his answer.

This extraordinary man, she thought, had just spoken to her with contempt and decisively rejected her. And now, in the next breath, he was apparently asking to see her again.

Inexplicable-and infuriating-he might be; but one thing she realized immediately. However badly the evening had gone for her and however galling his behavior, he had now-whatever the reason-made it possible for her after all to tell Elvair-ka-Virrjon that she had not altogether failed. In the light of this, her feelings of personal dislike for him mattered nothing.

She stood up, smiling. "Yes, very much, my lord: I'll look forward to it."

"Where shall I find you, then?"

"At the High Counselor's."

He stared at her as though taken by surprise and utterly disgusted. "You belong to him?"

"Yes, my lord: I thought you knew."

He shook his head without a word.

"The truth is, my lord, the High Counselor often leaves such matters to our saiyett. I think perhaps you might be able to come to an arrangement with her without troubling him."

"I dare say," replied Bayub-Otal. "But he knows too much. He's a man everyone fears. Anyway, here's your friend's two hundred meld."

"Why, you can give it to her yourself, my lord," said Maia. "Here she comes, look, and Lord Eud-Ecachlon with her."

Occula, scarlet-plumed, and Eud-Ecachlon-plucked, one might say-came down the corridor together, arms round each other's waists. It was clear that Eud-Ecachlon was feeling contented. He greeted Bayub-Otal with a smile and at once fell to praising Occula in a manner implying that he too had acquitted himself in no mean fashion. Occula, having allowed him to run on for a time and corroborated him whenever he seemed to be expecting it, at length put her lips to his cheek and asked whether he would now be so good as to escort her friend and herself to the lower courtyard, where a jekzha-so she believed-was awaiting them; and then return to convey thanks and farewells on their behalf to Lord Elvair-ka-Virrion.

"For the truth is, my lord," she explained, "that after what you've given me I shan't want any more for a week, and I'd rather not be put to the embarrassment of refusing anyone else."

Eud-Ecachlon, smirking with satisfaction, gave her a purse containing her lygol and readily undertook to do as she asked; and forthwith Occula, having sought out and paid the drummer and relieved Bayub-Otal of both her two hundred meld and Maia, made their departure.

Once in the jekzha, however, she drew down the rain-curtain and leant back, fanning the humid air and gripping Maia's hand like a child seeking comfort in the dark.