"Computer development," he muttered. "Resonating pentode circuits." Then he drew himself up defensively, with not a little pride. "But I placed at the top of the list in the Bureau's test for squires!" "That's fine," Jacques commented drily. "Now hurry, let's see what you learned...." "Dress him handsomely, Squire!" boomed a taunting voice from the doorway. "Our Lord High Executioner faces a rare challenge this day!" Jacques recognized the voice of Guy de Archambault, the Court Bailiff, whose bilious nose he intended to grind into the dust one of these fine days. But his anger at the Bailiff's intrusion was overbalanced by curiosity. "What's all the excitement about?" he demanded. "Who's on the docket, anyway?" The Bailiff grinned mockingly. "Forsooth, M'Lord, restrain thy impatience! In the Court's good time wilt ye learn...." "Oh, knock off that drivel, will you! Court's not in session yet...." The Bailiff's huge belly shook with laughter. "Have it your own way, Jacques, m'boy! But in any vernacular the meaning's the same--you're in for quite a surprise, if rumor has it right!" "Out with it, then! I can see you've been waiting to tell me." The grin broadened on the Bailiff's puffy lips. "You can bet your last sou on that! It would have broken my heart not to be the first to tell you...." Jacques took a threatening step toward him. "I'll break more than your heart if you don't answer my question...." "Patience, pa--Oh, all right!" the Bailiff hastily interrupted himself as Jacques took another step in his direction. "You've got a woman to shoot down this time--and that's just half the story!" Jacques' craggy features hardened into immobility. "What's the rest of it, fool?" "There's gossip going around that she's a page out of your past--maybe several pages, or even a whole chapter!" Jacques leaped the rest of the distance to the door and grabbed the Bailiff by his lace collar, twisting it until his round, fat cheeks swelled and reddened. "Who is it?" "L-Lady Ann--of--Coberly!" Jacques thumped his head against the side of the doorway. "I told you to knock off that drivel." "But--but that's all I know--I swear it! I just got here this morning, too, and took a quick peek at the calendar when I heard all the rumors out among the tents...!" Jacques shoved him out into the hallway, and stalked back into the room. The Bailiff straightened his collar, but made no move to leave. "M'Lord," he jibed, breathing heavily, "there's also a rumor that you have no stomach for executing any woman. Can that be true?"