war, does it
not?"

"It does," agreed Lyga, tersely.

"And, in such an event, how think ye will it go?" demanded Earle.

Lyga considered deeply. "It is a difficult matter to forecast," he
presently replied. "On the one hand, such a thing as a revolt against
the royal house has never yet occurred in Ulua, and, broadly speaking,
the Uluans, as a people, will be opposed to it. For it would be an
upsetting of one of Ulua's fundamental laws, and the people at large
will naturally argue that if it is possible to upset one law, it will be
possible to upset others, with consequences which no man can foresee.
On the other hand, Sachar is, far and away, the most powerful and
influential man in the kingdom. There are few, if any, who love him,
but there are many who, believing in his power, may be prepared to help
him in the hope of being lavishly rewarded in the event of his being
successful, while there are many more--probably thousands--who, directly
or indirectly, are so dependent upon his favour that they will feel they
have no choice but to help him, if called upon. And you may rest
assured that he _will_ call upon every man who is in the least degree
under his influence. I fear it will be found that he will have a very
large following."

"In that case," said Dick, "it appears to me that prompt and energetic
action is called for. And right here, my Lord Lyga, is where you can be
of the utmost service. I know little or nothing of the laws by which
Ulua is governed, while you, I understand, have them at your fingers'
ends. Tell me, therefore, how far does my authority, as Captain-General
of the Queen's Bodyguard, extend?"

"It extends just as far as her Majesty may be pleased to permit,"
answered Lyga. "You are entitled, even without obtaining her Majesty's
express permission, to take whatever steps you may deem necessary for
the protection of the Queen's person; and, beyond that, you have only to
obtain her Majesty's permission to render lawful any act performed by
you in the maintenance of law and order."

"I see," returned Dick. "It would appear, then, that my powers are
tolerably wide. Are they wide enough, think you, to justify me in
seizing, on behalf of the Queen, all property belonging to Sachar?"

"With what object?" demanded Lyga.

"Primarily, to deprive him of what we English term `the sinews of war,'"
replied Dick, "or, in other words, the means to organise a campaign; and
secondarily, with th