The guard, a thick-muscled Alpherazian with three cold, slitted eyes, had hurled him into the cell, thrown him sprawling against the slimy stone. "That ought to hold you, Kiley!" the Alpherazian growled. "You've stolen your last jewel, Earthman." "Get out of here!" Kiley said thinly. "Don't stand here and gloat. I'd be free and out of here if that crazy alarm hadn't popped off." The guard chuckled. "Relax and cool off, Kiley. You've got plenty of time to get used to your new home." The door clanged shut. Kiley spat in the darkness as he heard the bolt slipping home--the unbreakable, foolproof bolt of the escape proof Alpheraz jail. And then-- _How would you like to be free in five minutes?_ a voice asked. "Huh? Who's there?" Kiley looked around, narrowing his eyes to see in the foggy blackness, but there was no one within sight. _Don't strain your eyes_, the voice said--and Kiley realized it was an unspoken voice in his mind. _I'm a thousand light-years away. The name is Thaklaru._ "Who are you? _What_ are you?" _That doesn't concern you. I need your professional services, and I have a proposition to make._ "Go ahead," Kiley said, mystified. _You're a jewel-thief--and a good one. I can aid you in such a way that you'll be a perfect one._ "What do you mean?" _How would you like the power of instant hypnosis?_ the alien asked. _You could go anywhere you liked--simply by convincing people you belonged there. My mind, projected out through the focus of yours, could do this thing. We could work as partners, and divide fifty-fifty._ "Hold on," said Kiley suspiciously. "What do you need _me_ for, then? If you've got this power, why not just rob whatever you want yourself?" There was the voiceless equivalent of a chuckle. _I do not like to leave my home world. You will act as my travelling--ah--agent._ "Sounds good to me," Kiley said. "I've got nothing to lose, anyway. But how do I get out of here?" _A simple matter. Just be patient._ Kiley waited. A few minutes later, the Alpherazian jailer showed up--but the look of scorn was gone from his eyes. "Dreadfully sorry, Mr. Smith," the guard said humbly. "There's been some mistake here--we thought you were someone else. Naturally, we'll indemnify you for this inconvenience." "That's all right," Kiley said casually. "Mistakes _do_ happen, you know." "This way, please. We're terribly sorry about the whole affair." Kiley smiled as the guard led him out of the cell-block to freedom. _You're a man of your word, Thaklaru_, he thought. _It's a deal._ * * * * * Once free, Kiley had spent a very pleasant three weeks on Alpheraz VII. Thaklaru's mind was with him at all times--and with his power of instant hypnosis, all doors were open to him. It was a simple matter. The big coup came when Kiley grew tired of the planet's pleasures. He travelled to the Emperor's palace. The guards bowed to him as he approached. "Good afternoon, your majesty!"