Edgar Rice Burroughs

Thuvia Edgar Rice Burroughs

As the ruler of Ptarth, followed by his courtiers, descended from the landing-stage above thepalace, the servants dropped into their places in the rear of their royal or noble masters, andbehind the others one lingered to the last. Then quickly stooping he snatched the sandal from hisright foot, slipping it into his pocket-pouch. When the party had come to the lower levels, and the jeddak had dispersed them by a sign, none noticed that the forward fellow who had drawn so much attention to himself before thePrince of Helium departed, was no longer among the other servants. To whose retinue he had been attached none had thought to inquire, for the followers of aMartian noble are many, coming and going at the whim of their master, so that a new face isscarcely ever questioned, as the fact that a man has passed within the palace walls is consideredproof positive that his loyalty to the jeddak is beyond question, so rigid is the examination ofeach who seeks service with the nobles of the court. A good rule that, and only relaxed by courtesy in favour of the retinue of visiting royaltyfrom a friendly foreign power. It was late in the morning of the next day that a giant serving man in the harness of the houseof a great Ptarth noble passed out into the city from the palace gates. Along one broad avenueand then another he strode briskly until he had passed beyond the district of the nobles and hadcome to the place of shops. Here he sought a pretentious building that rose spire-like toward theheavens, its outer walls elaborately wrought with delicate carvings and intricate mosaics. It was the Palace of Peace in which were housed the representatives of the foreign powers, orrather in which were located their embassies; for the ministers themselves dwelt in gorgeouspalaces within the district occupied by the nobles. Here the man sought the embassy of Dusar. A clerk arose questioningly as he entered, and athis request to have a word with the minister asked his credentials. The visitor slipped a plainmetal armlet from above his elbow, and pointing to an inscription upon its inner surface, whispered a word or two to the clerk. The latter's eyes went wide, and his attitude turned at once to one of deference. He bowed thestranger to a seat, and hastened to an inner room with the armlet in his hand. A moment later hereappeared and conducted the caller into the presence of the minister. For a long time the two were closeted together, and when at last the giant serving manemerged from the inner office his expression was cast in a smile of sinister satisfaction. From thePalace of Peace he hurried directly to the palace of the Dusarian ministe