Georg was waiting for our captor to lay his cards before us. Tarrano knew it; his smile broadened. "I shall not mince words, Georg Brende. Between men, that is not necessary. And we are isolated here--no one beyond Venia can listen. As you know, I am already Master of Venus. In Mars--that will shortly come. They will hand themselves over to me--or I shall conquer them." He shrugged. "It is quite immaterial." He added contemptuously: "People are fools--almost everyone--it is no great feat to dominate them." "You'll find our Earth leaders are not fools," Georg said quietly. Tarrano's heavy brows went up. "So?" He chuckled. "That remains to be seen. Well, you heard the ultimatum they sent me? What do you think of it?" "I think you'd best obey it," I burst out impulsively. "I was not speaking to you." He did not change the level intonation of his voice, nor even look my way. "You are to die tomorrow, Jac Hallen----" Elza gave a low cry; instantly his gaze swung to her. "So? That strikes at _you_, Lady Elza?" She flushed even deeper than before, and the flush, with her instinctive look to me that accompanied it, made my heart leap. Tarrano's face had darkened. "You would not have me put him to death, Lady Elza?" She was struggling to guard from him her emotions; struggling to match her woman's wit against him. "I--why no," she stammered. "No? Because he is--your friend?" "Yes. I--I would not let you do that." "Not let me?" Incredulous amusement swept over his face. "No. I would not--let you do that." Her gaze now held level with his. A strength came to her voice. Georg and I watched her--and watched Tarrano--fascinated. She repeated once more: "No. I would not let you." "How could you stop me?" "I would--tell you not to do it." "So?" Admiration leaped into his eyes to mingle with the amusement there. "You would tell me not to do it?" "Yes." She did not flinch before him. "And you think then--I would spare him?" "Yes. I know you would." "And why?" "Because--if you did a thing like that--I should--hate you." "Hate----" "Yes. Hate you--always." He turned suddenly away from her, sitting up with a snap of alertness. "Enough of this." Did he realize he was defeated in this passage with a girl? Was he trying to cover from us the knowledge of his defeat? And then again the bigness of him made itself manifest. He acknowledged soberly: "You have bested me, Lady Elza. And you've made me realize that I--Tarrano--have almost lowered myself to admit this Jac Hallen my rival." He laughed harshly. "Not so! A rival? Pah! He shall live if you wish it--live close by you and me--as an insect might live on a twig by the rim of the eagle's nest.... Enough!... I was asking you, Georg Brende, of this ultimatum. Should I yield to it?" He had suppressed his other emotions; he was amusing himself with us again. "Yes," said Georg.