Sanoma Tora laughed. "If you think that I would link myself for life to a threadbare Padwar even if I loved him, you are mistaken," she said haughtily. "I am the daughter of Tor Hatan, whose wealth and power are but little less than those of the royal families of Helium. I have suitors whose wealth is so great that they could buy you a thousand times over. Within the year an emissary of the Jeddak Tul Axtar of Jahar waited upon my father; he had seen me and he said that he would return, and, merely for love, you would ask me, who may some day be Jeddara of Jahar, to become the wife of a poor Padwar." I arose. "Perhaps you are right," I said. "You are so beautiful that it does not seem possible that you could be wrong, but deep in my heart I cannot but feel that happiness is the greatest treasure that one may possess, and love the greatest power. Without these, Sanoma Tora, even a Jeddara is poor indeed." "I shall take my chance," she said. "I hope that the Jeddak of Jahar is not as greasy as his emissary," I remarked rather peevishly, I am afraid. "He may be an animated grease-pot for all I care if he will make me his Jeddara," said Sanoma Tora. "Then there is no hope for me?" I asked. "Not while you have so little to offer, Padwar," she replied. It was then that a slave announced Sil Vagis, and I took my leave. I had never before plumbed such depths of despondency as that which engulfed me as I made my unhappy way back to my quarters, but even though hope seemed dead I had not relinquished my determination to win her. If wealth and power were her price, then I would achieve wealth and power. Just how I was going to accomplish it was not entirely clear, but I was young and to youth all things are possible. I had tossed in wakefulness upon my sleeping silks and furs for some time when an officer of the guard burst suddenly into my quarters. "Hadron!" he shouted, "are you here?" "Yes," I replied. "Praised be the ashes of my ancestors!" he exclaimed. "I feared that you were not." "Why should I not be?" I demanded. "What is this all about?" "Tor Hatan, the fat old treasure bag, is gone mad," he exclaimed. "Tor Hatan gone mad? What do you mean? What has that got to do with me?" "He swears that you have abducted his daughter." In an instant I was upon my feet. "Abducted Sanoma Tora!" I cried. "Has something happened to her? Tell me, quickly." "Yes, she is gone, all right," said my informant, "and there is something mighty mysterious about it." But I did not wait to hear more. Seizing my harness, I adjusted it as I ran up the spiral runway toward the hangars on the roof of the barracks. I had no authority or permit to take out a flier, but what did that mean to me if Sanoma Tora was in danger?