it high, and scanned Cunningham's face as though he
were reading a finely drawn map.

"We are prepared--I speak for my daughter as well as for myself--to obey
any orders that you have a right to give, young man."

"You misunderstand me," answered Cunningham. "I am offering you the
opportunity to serve the Company. As the Company's senior officer in the
neighborhood, I am responsible to the Company for such orders as I see
fit to give. I could not have my orders questioned. I don't mind telling
you that I'm asking you, as British subjects, no more than I intend to
ask Alwa and his Rangars. You can do as much as they are going to be
asked to do. You can't do more. But you can do less if you like. You
are being given the opportunity now to offer your services
unconditionally--that is to say in the only manner in which I will
accept them. Otherwise you will remain non-combatants, and I shall take
such measures for your safety as I see fit. Time presses. Your answer,
please!"

"I will obey your legal orders," said McClean, still making full use of
the lantern.

"I refuse to admit the qualification," answered Cunningham promptly.
"Either you will obey, or you will not. You are asked to say which, that
is all."

"I will obey," said Rosemary McClean quietly. She said it through
straight lips and in a level voice that carried more assurance than a
string of loud-voiced oaths.

"And you, sir?"

"Since my daughter sees fit to--ah--capitulate, I have no option."

"Be good enough to be explicit."

"I agree to obey your orders."

"Thank you." He seemed to have finished with McClean. He turned away
from him and faced Rosemary, not troubling to examine her face closely
as he had done her father's, but seeming none the less to give her full
attention. "I understood you to say that you promised to help Prince
Jaimihr to escape from his cell tonight?"

"WHAT?"

Duncan McClean could not have acted such amazement. Cunningham desired
no further evidence that he had not been accessory to his daughter's
visit to the prisoner. He silenced him with a gesture. And now his eyes
seemed for the time being to have finished with both of them; in spite
of the darkness they both knew that he had resumed the far-away look
that seemed able to see things finished.

"Yes," said Rosemary. "I promised. I had to."

Her father gasped. But Cunningham appeared to follow an unbroken chain
of thought, and she listened.

"Well. You will both re