It was 27 o'clock and the Palace of Sapphires was silent. I was alone in the ornate bed chamber the Great Owner had assigned me. It was a nice room but I wouldn't learn anything staying in it. Nobody had said I was confined to quarters. I'd do a little scouting and see what I could pick up, if anything. I slung on the holster and .38 and slid out of the darkened chamber into the scarcely lighter corridor beyond. I saw a guard at the far end; he ignored me. I headed in the opposite direction. None of the rooms were locked. There was no arsenal at the Palace and no archives that lesser folk than the Great Owner could use with profit. Everything was easy of access. I guessed that Ommodurad rightly counted on indifference to keep snoopers away. Here and there guards eyed me as I passed along but they said nothing. I saw again by Cintelight the office where Ommodurad had received me and near it an ostentatious hall with black onyx floor and ceiling, gold hangings, and ceremonial ringboard. But the center of attraction was the familiar motif of the concentric circles of the Two Worlds, sketched in beaten gold across the broad wall of black marble behind the throne. Here the idea had been elaborated on. Outward from both the inner and outer circles flamed waving lines of sunburst, and at dead center a boss, like a sword hilt in form, chased in black and gold, erupted a foot from the wall. It was the first time I'd seen the symbol since I'd arrived on Vallon. I found it strangely exciting--like a footprint in the sand. I went on, and came into a purple-vaulted hall where I saw a squad of guards, the same six who'd kept me such close company earlier in the day. They were drawn up at parade rest, three on each side of a massive ivory door. Somebody lived in safety and splendor on the other side. Six sets of hard eyes turned my way. It was too late to duck back out of sight. I trotted up to the first of the row of guards. "Say, fella," I stage-whispered, "where's the ah--you know." "Every bed chamber is equipped," he said gruffly, raising his sword and fingering its tip lovingly. "Yeah? I never noticed." I moved off, looking chastened. * * * * * On the ground floor I found Torbu and his cohort quartered in a barrack-room off the main entry hall. They had gotten hold of a few pipes of melon wine and were staging a small party with the help of several upstairs maids. "We're still in enemy territory," I reminded Torbu. "I want every man ready. So save some of that booze for tomorrow." "No fear, boss," said Torbu. "All my bullies got a eye on the door and a hand on a knife-hilt." "Have you seen or heard anything useful?" "Naw. These local dullards fall dumb at the first query." "Keep your ears cocked. I want at least two men awake and on the alert all night." "You bet, noble Drgon."