"It will not take long. This night which is coming should see me in control of the city." "Time is nothing to me," said the Robot. "I will stand here until you return." "That is right." Without another word or look at Mary and me, Tugh swung around, gathered his cloak and went through the doorway. The door slid closed upon him. We were again alone with the mechanism, which backed into the corner and stood with long dangling arms and expressionless metal face. This inert thing of metal, we had come to regard as almost human! It stood motionless, with the chilling red gleam from its eye sockets upon us. * * * * * Mary had not once spoken since Tugh entered the room. She was huddled beside me, a strange, beautiful figure in her long white silk dress. In the glow of light within this bare metal apartment I could see how pale and drawn was her beautiful face. But her eyes were gleaming. She drew me closer to her; whispered into my ear: "George, I think perhaps I can control this mechanism, Migul." "How, Mary?" "I--well, just let me talk to him. George, we've got to get out of here and warn Larry and that Princess Tina against Tugh. And join them. It's our only chance; we've got to get out of here now!" "But Mary--" "Let me try. I won't startle or anger Migul. Let me." I nodded. "But be careful." "Yes." She sat away from me. "Migul!" she said. "Migul, look here." The Robot moved its huge square head and raised an arm with a vague gesture. "What do you want?" It advanced, and stood before us, its dangling arms clanking against its metal sides. In one of its hands the ray-cylinder was clutched, the wire from which ran loosely up the arm, over the huge shoulder and into an aperture of the chest plate where the battery was located. "Closer, Migul." "I am close enough." The cylinder was pointed directly at us. "What do you want?" the Robot repeated. Mary smiled. "Just to talk to you," she said gently. "To tell you how foolish you are--a big strong thing like you!--to let Tugh control you." CHAPTER XIX _The Pit in the Dam_ Larry, with Tina and Tugh, stood in the tunnel-corridor beneath the palace listening to the commotion overhead. Then they rushed up, and found the palace in a commotion. People were hurrying through the rooms; gathering with frightened questions. There were men in short trousers buckled at the knee, silken hose and black silk jackets, edged with white; others in gaudy colors; older men in sober brown. There were a few women. Larry noticed that most of them were beautiful.