Chapter 8

There was  absolute silence  in Wienis' chambers  when the image  of PrinceLefkin appeared at the televisor. There had been one startled gasp from theregent at  the haggard  face and shredded  uniform of his son,  and then hecollapsed  into a  chair,  face contorted  with surprise  and apprehension.
Hardin  listened stolidly,  hands  clasped lightly  in his  lap,  while thejust-crowned King  Lepold sat  shriveled in the most  shadowy comer, bitingspasmodically  at his goldbraided  sleeve. Even  the soldiers had  lost theemotionless stare that is