"It is my life, or yours, Haj Osis," I said, "unless you do what I tell you to do." "What?" he asked, his face black with terror. "Is there an ante room behind the throne?" I asked. "Yes," he replied. "What of it?" "Take me there alone," I said. "Command your people to stand aside." "And let you kill me when you get me there?" he demanded, trembling. "I shall kill you now if you do not," I replied. "Listen, Haj Osis, I did not come here to kill you or your son. What I told the padwar of the guard was a lie. I came for another purpose, far transcending in importance to me the life of Haj Osis or that of his son. Do as I tell you and I promise that I shall not kill you. Tell your people that we are going into the ante room and that I promise not to harm you if we are left alone there for five xats (_about fifteen minutes_)." He hesitated. "Make haste," I said, "I have no time to waste," and I let the point of his own dagger touch his throat. "Don't!" he screamed, shrinking back. "I will do whatever you say. Stand back all of you!" he shouted to his people. "I am going to the ante room with this warrior and I command you upon pain of death not to enter there for five xats. At the end of that time, come; but not before." I took a firm hold upon Haj Osis' harness between his shoulders and I kept the point of his dagger pressed against the flesh beneath his left shoulder blade as I followed him toward the ante room, while those who had crowded the dais behind the throne fell back to make an aisle for us. At the doorway I halted and turned toward them. "Remember," I said, "five full xats and not a tal before." Entering the ante room I closed and bolted the door, and then, still forcing Haj Osis ahead of me, I crossed the room and closed and bolted the only other door to the chamber. Then I pushed the Jed to one side of the room. "Lie down here upon your face," I said. "You promised not to kill me," he wailed. "I shall not kill you unless they come before the five xats are up and you do otherwise than as I bid you so as not to delay me. I am going to bind you, but it will not hurt you." With poor grace he lay down upon his belly and with his own harness I strapped his arms together behind his back. Then I blindfolded him and left him lying there.