of him," Domiloff repeated. "Why he is to be our puppet
King--for a month or so. He is simply invaluable. Besides, his absence
from the army has set people talking about the King. It has created
dissatisfaction."

"That is all very well, Domiloff," Hassen said, "but have you ever
considered how very much more useful Reist would be to us if he were
outwardly on friendly terms with the King, near him now and at the
head of his men--and all the time ours?"

"It is without doubt true, but you do not know Nicholas of Reist,"
Domiloff said, dryly. "He is not of the stuff from which conspirators
are fashioned. This quarrel with the King has cost me endless trouble.
He would never play a traitor's part, as he would call it, secretly."

Hassen smiled grimly.

"Listen, Domiloff," he said. "If Nicholas of Reist were to go to the
King and hold out his hand, and beg his pardon, would the King receive
him?"

"Of course."

"Would he give him the command at Althea if he were to ask for it?"

"Without a doubt."

"Then he must ask for it and get it. Then I will talk to him if you
find him so difficult. These are not times for neutrality. He must be
for the King or against the King. With the Althean passes unguarded
for an hour the thing is done. Then there can be as much intervention
as you like. Theos will be ours."

Domiloff stood silent, with knitted brows and downcast eyes.

"The scheme is good," he said, "but I fear very much whether Reist
will consent."

"He will have to," Hassen answered, coolly. "He is your man, is he
not? He has already committed himself too deeply to draw back. You can
show him that it is for the salvation of Theos."

"You shall show him yourself," Domiloff answered. "I will take you to
him. You will understand then the mood of the man with whom we have to
deal."

Hassen held up his hand.

"You forget," he said. "The Duke of Reist and I are ancient enemies. I
was in command when we raided the frontier ten years ago. Perhaps my
men were a little rough to their prisoners--I forget the circumstances
now, but there was trouble between us."

Domiloff shrugged his shoulders.

"So was I his enemy a short time ago," he answered. "It is barely a
month since the name of a Russian was like poison to him. But those
things are forgotten now. Reist is ours--absolutely. Our friends must
be his friends, and our enemies his. So I shall take you to him.
Believe me, it will be best."

Even then Hassen hes