"You deduced somehow what I would look for," interrupted Vyrtl, nodding. "I can see how a study of the things I chose to have about me--paintings, statues, furnishings, even people--might yield keys to my preferences. You did remarkably well." He tossed another pebble and stared at the ripples. "I suppose every man has his ideal of a woman," he said. "I doubt that any man has _seen_ his absolute ideal--except me. I wonder if you know what it does to one?" He chose a flat pebble and sent it skipping across the surface with a vicious snap of his wrist. It bounced three ... four ... five times, and sank. "I presume," said Daphne Foster, breaking a tight little silence, "that you will grant me time to set my affairs in order?" Vyrtl weighed a pebble in his hand. "You expect to be executed," he stated flatly. "Naturally, we knew all along that someone would have to pay for tricking you. The Emperor of Pollux must, after all, maintain his dignity." Vyrtl wondered if he had detected a note of irony in the musical voice. He marveled anew at the pleasure of listening to her. But of course, he reminded himself, he heard his own imagined ideal of what a lovely woman's voice should be. "No," he said abruptly, swinging about. "I am merely going to insist that you fulfill the terms of the agreement by remaining at my court. I want you near me from now on." She blinked at that. "But, surely ... you must realize ... it is only an illusion!" she protested. "As am I," said Vyrtl. "A figurehead imprisoned in a maze of formalities and so-called pleasures." * * * * * He saw that she could not understand what could be wrong with his position. "Once, when I was very young," he said, "I thought I would rule. But fourteen planets require a whole _council_ of co-ordinators! I gave up that idea and tried to enjoy myself." She stared at him uncertainly. He waved a hand at the artificial forest. "It has been like that ever since. They fall all over themselves to devise new ways of getting my attention and to present pleasures and entertainment I am incapable of enjoying. I have more wealth than I can estimate, I sometimes forget which palace I am in, even my wives look alike by now." "I must sympathize with Your Illustrious Sublimity." He flung her a hard stare. "Perhaps you ought! Even my generals and their soldiers have their dreams--of conquest or loot. The engineer who built this dome pictures himself famous and admired. Wilkins is proud of his influence, and other courtiers have visions of doing away with Wilkins and replacing him." He stood up restlessly. "You will laugh at me, I know--but there is little enjoyment in life when every whim is catered to at a snap of one's fingers. What have I to _desire_?" "I see." She nodded slowly. "The old saying about the pleasure of anticipation outweighing that of attainment."