The King's man, however, did not think he was a comic figure. He sputtered, and the red of his face matched the color of the skin on his back. "You took long enough," he said accusingly and then, when Rastignac opened his mouth to protest, the Jail-breaker said, "Never mind, never mind. _Sa n'apawt_. The thing is that we get you away fast. The Minister of Ill-Will has doubtless by now received word that an official jail-break is planned for tonight. He will send a company of his mucketeers to intercept you. By coming in advance of the appointed time we shall have time to escape before the official rescue party arrives." "How much time do we have?" asked Rastignac. The King's man said, "Let's see. After I escort you through the rooms of the Duke, the King's foster-brother--he is most favorable to the Violent Philosophy, you know, and has petitioned the King to become your official patron, which petition will be considered at the next meeting of the Chamber of Deputies in three months--let's see, where was I? Ah, yes, I escort you through the rooms of the King's brother. You will be disguised as His Majesty's mucketeers, ostensibly looking for the escaped prisoners. From the rooms of the Duke you will be let out through a small door in the wall of the palace itself. A car will be waiting. "From then on it will be up to you. I suggest, however, that you make a dash for Mapfarity's castle. Follow the _Rue des Nues_; that is your best chance. The mucketeers have been pulled off that boulevard. However, it is possible that Auverpin, the Ill-Will Minister, may see that order and will rescind it, realizing what it means. If he does, I suppose I will see you back in your cell, Rastignac." He bowed to the Ssassaror and Archambaud and said, "And you two gentlemen will then be with him." "And then what?" rumbled Mapfarity. "According to the law, you will be allowed one more jail-break. Any more after that will, of course, be illegal. That is, unthinkable." Rastignac unsheathed his epee and slashed it at the air. "Let the mucketeers stand in my way," he said fiercely. "I will cut them down with this!" The Jail-breaker staggered back, hands outthrust. "Please, Monsieur Rastignac! Please! Don't even talk about it! You know that your philosophy is, as yet, illegal. The shedding of blood is an act that will be regarded with horror throughout the sentient planet. People would think you are an Amphibian!" "The Amphibians know what they're doing far better than we do," answered Rastignac. "Why do you think they're winning against us Humans?" Suddenly, before anybody could answer, the sound of blaring horns came from somewhere on the ramparts. Shouts went up; drums began to beat, calling the mucketeers to alert. And above it all came the roar of a giant Ssassaror voice: "_An Earthship has landed in the sea! And the pilot of the ship is in the hands of the Amphibians!_"