Philipson paused, eyeing me very keenly before he resumed his narrative. I imagine he was wondering how much I knew or suspected of these affairs already. 'Though,' he continued at length, almost hastily, 'once more I shrank from communicating a matter so wild and incredible. And from then on, that vision was before my eyes night and day, leading me by safe paths. Otherwise, not I nor any other man of this earth could have found a way as I did over that last awful wilderness of snow. The rest is known to you. We came to the rim of the valley, and I knew it was the valley of my dreams. I think I should have told you everything on that last morning, but then came the avalanche, and after that, as you saw, I was borne away from you in the midst of a bodyguard. There now seemed to ensue several periods of unconsciousness, which I found afterwards were part of the treatment given me by our physicians, and when at last I came to my normal self I learned that I had been chosen King of this city. I asked for you and for my servants. The latter were brought to me a day later. I did not know then that they had been picked up on the hillside for dead, so their appearance did not greatly surprise me. I then inquired why you had not come to me. I was informed that the Nine Shadows advised delay. It was my first knowledge of the existence of that body, but from the way their name was mentioned I realised they were a force to be reckoned with, and subsequent developments have more than confirmed me in the belief. Bit by bit I have come to understand my position. I can tell you it is by no means so simple as might have appeared to a casual onlooker the other day when I was crowned and publicly betrothed to a maiden of the ancient blood royal.' 'You mean your power is limited?' put in Poyning. Philipson leaned further forward and sunk his voice lower. 'The situation seems to be this,' he said. 'The Nine Shadows are all-powerful. As soon as they had satisfied themselves I was the true Alexander who should come, they advised the reigning Prince, Kalliphanes, to abdicate. "Advise"--that is the word generally used of the acts of the Nine, but I have already apprehended that it might be bad for the man who neglected that advice. Although Kalliphanes retired with apparently good grace, I do not know that he is reconciled to his retirement. He has behind him a faction, some of whom even question my claim to the throne, and though he can do nothing so long as the Nine are with me, I am disposed to venture little authority on my own account until my position is more securely established. So you see,' he concluded, 'it is not all honey to be King of the lost city of Hellas. But now tell me something about yourselves. What have you been doing all this while?