Garroway said slowly, "I am going to do ... nothing. Dirk Morris was put to death almost three weeks ago. The ... the Galactic Ghost is a ghost indeed!" The girl smiled. "Perhaps," she said thoughtfully. "But a ghost with very tangible body ... and impulses. And, if I am not greatly mistaken, an Achilles' heel. Listen, my father.... I will drive a bargain with you. For a certain price, I will deliver into your hands this threat to your power." "Price?" The Overlord stared at her bleakly. "What price do you ask?" "The life," said the girl, "of the Ghost." Garroway's brow darkened. "Have you gone mad?" he demanded harshly. "His life is forfeit the moment my men seize him!" "But," pointed out the Princess Lenore sagely, "they cannot lay hands on him ... without my help. Come, father ... I, too, can be ruthless in getting that which I desire. Will you give me the man, Dirk Morris, and put an end to these depredations? Or must your fortresses continue to fall because of all on earth, I alone know how this phantom may be caught?" Garroway's cheeks were mottled with rage; for a moment it seemed he might strike his own daughter. "You ... you ingrate!" he husked. "You dare bargain with the System's Emperor?" "I dare bargain," taunted the Princess, "with my own father. And with a badly frightened man." Garroway fumed at the taunt ... but capitulated, as the Princess had known he must do. He lowered his hands weakly. "Very well," he said. "I give you your price. Now, what must be done?" "This--" said the Princess. And for a long time two remarkably similar heads, both in physiognomy and mentality, bent close together in conference.... VI "Tonight?" asked Dirk Morris. "You're sure, Neil?" "This very night," swore Neil Hardesty. "At the Palace Royal. I got it on the highest authority. From one of the Imperial Guard, recently converted to our Cause. A grand meeting of the Emperor's strategy Council, summoned to discuss ways and means--" He grinned--"of apprehending the Galactic Ghost." Dirk Morris smiled, too, though his features were invisible to his friend. "The Ghost," he promised, "will attend the Council meeting. Neil, send out a hurried summons to all the Group. Tonight may be the night for which we have waited and planned. The situation has finally turned to our advantage. This is the setting we needed to strike our final, and heaviest, blow. A gathering of all Graed Garroway's most trusted lieutenants! What better time to bring an abrupt end to his tyranny?" "Destruction?" asked Brian Shaughnessey. "You plan to kill them all, Dirk?"