That puzzled him; he wished he knew just what Yorn Travann was up to.
"Just keep quiet about it," he advised.

* * * * *

More aircars were arriving, big and luxurious, emblazoned with the arms
of some of the most distinguished families in Asgard. One of the first
to let down bore the device of Duklass, and from it the Minister of
Economics, the Minister of Education, and a couple of other Ministers,
alighted. Count Duklass went at once to Prince Travann, drawing him away
from King Ranulf and Lord Koreff and talking to him rapidly and
earnestly. Count Tammsan approached at a swift half-run.

"Save Your Majesty!" he greeted, breathlessly. "What's going on, sir? We
heard something about some petty brawl at the University, that Prince
Ganzay had become alarmed about, but now there seems to be fighting all
over the city. I never saw anything like it; on the way here we had to
go up to ten thousand feet to get over a battle, and there's a vast
crowd on the Avenue of the Arts, and----" He took in the Security
Guards. "Your Majesty, just what _is_ going on?"

"Great and frightening changes." Count Tammsan started; he must have
been to a psi-medium, too. "But I think the Empire is going to survive
them. There may even be a few improvements, before things are done."

A blue-uniformed Gendarme officer approached Prince Travann, drawing him
away from Count Duklass and speaking briefly to him. The Minister of
Security nodded, then turned back to the Minister of Economics. They
talked for a few moments longer, then clasped hands, and Travann left
Duklass with his face wreathed in smiles. The Gendarme officer
accompanied him as he approached.

"Your Majesty, this is Colonel Handrosan, the officer who handled the
affair at the University."

"And a very good piece of work, colonel." He shook hands with him.
"Don't be surprised if it's remembered next Honors Day. Did you bring
Khane and the two professors?"

"They're down on the lower landing-stage, Your Majesty. We're delaying
the students, to give Your Majesty time to talk to them."

"We'll see them now. My study will do." The officer saluted and went
away. He turned to Count Tammsan. "That's why I asked Prince Ganzay to
invite you here. This thing's become too public to be ignored; some sort
of action will have to be taken. I'm going to talk to the students; I
want to find out just what happened before I commit myself to anything.
Well, gentl