He listened a moment. Silence from within. His heart pounded frantically, irking him; this was his first major test, possibly the gateway to all his hopes, and it irritated him that he felt anxiety. He touched the tip of the radionic opener to the door. The substance of the door blurred as the energy barricade that composed it was temporarily dissolved. Herndon stepped through quickly. Behind him, the door returned to a state of solidity. The light of the room was dim. The Lady Moaris awaited him, wearing a gauzy dressing-gown. She smiled tensely at him; she seemed ill-at-ease. "Would I do otherwise?" "I--wasn't sure. I'm not in the habit of doing things like this." Herndon repressed a cynical smile. Such innocence was touching, but highly improbable. He said nothing, and she went on: "I was caught by your face--something harsh and terrible about it struck me. I had to send for you, to know you better." Ironically Herndon said, "I feel honored. I hadn't expected such an invitation." "You won't--think it's cheap of me, will you?" she said plaintively. It was hardly the thing Herndon expected from the lips of the noble Lady Moaris. But, as he stared at her slim body revealed beneath the filmy robe, he understood that she might not be so noble after all once the gaudy pretense was stripped away. He saw her as perhaps she truly was: a young girl of great loveliness, married to a domineering nobleman who valued her only for her use in public display. It might explain this bedchamber summons to a Second Steward. He took her hand. "This is the height of my ambitions, milady. Beyond this room, where can I go?" But it was empty flattery he spoke. He darkened the room illumination exultantly. _With your conquest, Lady Moaris_, he thought, _do I begin the conquest of the Seigneur Krellig!_ CHAPTER IV The voyage to Molleccogg lasted a week, absolute time aboard ship. After their night together, Herndon had occasion to see the Lady Moaris only twice more, and on both occasions she averted her eyes from him, regarding him as if he were not there. It was understandable. But Herndon held a promise from her that she would see him again in three months' time, when she returned to Borlaam; and she had further promised that she would use her influence with her husband to have Herndon invited to the court of the Seigneur. The _Lord Nathiir_ emerged from nullspace without difficulty and was snared by the landing-field of Molleccogg Spacefield. Through the viewing-screen on his own deck, Herndon saw the colorful splendor of the pleasure-planet on which they were about to land, growing larger now that they were in the final spiral. But he did not intend to remain long on the world of Molleccogg. He found the Chief Steward and applied for a leave of absence from Lord Moaris' service, without pay. "But you've just joined us," the Steward protested. "And now you want to leave?"