“N-no,” the usurper ruminated, waving his antennae thoughtfully, “not just now. Wait until I finish with this wire. In the meantime you might let the Minorian lean against the wall, so that he will be more comfortable.” So Myles leaned against the wall and waited, his hands still held high, while the prince puttered around in the corner. Finally, after a seemingly interminable period, Yuri arose, slung his tools together, brushed one hand against the other, and looked at his victim with a cruel smile. “Shall I kill him now?” asked Tobo. “No. I am reserving that pleasure for myself,” the prince replied. Then to Cabot: “At last, you are in my power. I intend to shoot you myself. I intend to shoot you down, unarmed.” Turning to Tobo, the prince asked, “How is our battle going?” “Very well, sire,” the soldier replied. “We are repulsing all assaults, in spite of the departure of the bees to the southward.” A momentary cloud of doubt spread over the sinister handsome visage of Prince Yuri. Then he smiled and said, “Doubtless the bees know what they are about, and will soon return to the fray. So let us proceed with the execution. Follow me!” Myles followed. Almost was he tempted to spring upon his enemy and attempt to throttle him before the inevitable bullet from Tobo could do its work. It would be well worth the sacrifice of his own life to rid Cupia of this incubus. But what if Yuri should survive? No, it would never do to risk this. So he meekly followed. The prince led the way up several levels, until they came to a small circular chamber hung with curtains. At one side was a dais. An electric vapor-lamp on the ceiling furnished the light. Prince Yuri took the rifle from the guard, stood Myles in the center of the room, and sat down himself on the dais. Then he directed Tobo, “Go and summon the Princess Lilla hither, for I wish her to see me kill this lover of hers, this beast from another world.” Myles winced at the mention of his beloved, and thereat his tormentors smiled. The soldier departed on his errand. Yuri toyed with the weapon, and watched his victim, with a sneer on his handsome lips. Myles returned his stare without flinching. “You can put down your hands now, if you wish, you fur-faced mathlab,” the prince remarked. Cabot did so, and instinctively felt of his face. The insult was unwarranted, for he had shaved only that morning. “Don’t go too far!” he admonished his captor. “Remember Poblath’s proverb: ‘You cannot kill a Minorian’.” “I’ve a mind to kill you right now,” the prince replied, “just to prove to you that your friend is wrong.” “Go ahead and try it,” Myles challenged, half hoping that Yuri would take him at his word, and thus spare Lilla the pain of attending the execution. A grim look settled on the usurper’s face as he slowly raised the rifle and pointed it at the earth-man’s right side. “Left side,” Myles admonished. “Remember that my heart is on the other side than is the case with you Cupians.”