"It is unfortunate and foolish," replied Valthor.
"But it is the custom," Gemnon reminded him.
"Then may we never meet, for I could never take pleasure in killing you."
"Here's to it, then," cried Gemnon, raising his hand as though it held a drinking horn. "May we never meet again!" And with that he turned and left them.
Tarzan and Valthor had but scarcely finished their meal when a noble arrived to tell them that Valthor's escort was ready to depart, and a moment later, with a brief farewell, the Athnean left.
By Nemone's command the ape-man's weapons had been returned to him, and he was engaged in inspecting them, looking to the points and feathers of his arrows, his bowstring, and his grass rope, when Gemnon returned. The Cathnean was quite evidently angry and not a little excited. This was one of the few occasions upon which Tarzan had seen his warder other than smiling and affable.
"I have had a bad half hour with the queen," explained Gemnon. "I was lucky to get away with my life. She is furious over this attempt upon your life and blames me for neglect of duty. What am I to do? Sit on your window sill all night?"
Tarzan laughed. "I am an embarrassment," he said lightly, "and I am sorry. But how can I help it? It was an accident that brought me here; it is perversity that keeps me, the perversity of a spoiled woman."
'You had better not tell her that, or let other than me hear you say it," Gemnon cautioned him.
I may tell her," laughed Tarzan. "I am afraid I never acquired that entirely human accomplishment called diplomacy."
"She has sent me to summon you, and I warn you to exercise a little judgment, even though you have no diplomacy. She is like a raging lion, and whoever arouses her further will be in for a mauling."
"What does she want of me?" demanded Tarzan.
"Am I to remain in this house, caged up like a pet dog, to run at the beck of a woman?"
"She is investigating this attempt on your life and has summoned others to be questioned," Gemnon explained.
Gemnon led the way to a large audience chamber where the nobles of the court were congregated before a massive throne on which the queen sat, her beautiful brows contracted in a frown. As Tarzan and Gemnon entered the room, she looked up; but she did not smile. A noble advanced and led the two men to seats near the foot of the throne.
As Tarzan glanced about at the faces of those near him, he saw Tomos, and Erot, and Xerstle. Erot was nervous; he fidgeted constantly upon his bench; he played with his fingers and with the hilt of his sword.
"We have been awaiting you," said the queen as Tarzan took his seat. "It appears that you did not exert yourself to hasten in response to our command."
Tarzan looked up at her with an amused smile. "On the contrary, your majesty, I returned at once with the noble Gemnon," he explained respectfully.
"We have summoned you to tell the story of what happened in your apartment last night that resulted in the killing of a warrior." She then turned to a noble standing at her side and whispered a few words in his ear, whereupon the man quit the room. "You may proceed," she said, turning again to Tarzan.
"There is little to tell," replied the ape-man, rising.
"A man came to my room to kill me, but I killed him instead."
"How did he enter your room?" demanded Nemone.
"Where was Gemnon? Did he admit the fellow?"
"Of course not," replied Tarzan. "Gemnon was asleep in his own room. The man who would have killed me was lowered from the window of the apartment above mine and entered through my window. There was a long rope tied about his body."
"How did you know he came to kill you? Did he attack you?"
"Valthor, the Athnean, was sleeping in my bed; I was sleeping on the floor. The man did not see me, for the room was dark. He went to the bed where he thought I was sleeping. I awoke as he stood over Valthor, his sword raised in his hand ready to strike. Then I killed him and threw his body out of the window."
"Did you recognize him? Had you ever seen him before?" asked the queen.
"I did not recognize him."
There was a noise at the entrance to the audience chamber that caused Nemone to glance up. Four slaves bore a stretcher into the room and laid it at the foot of the throne; on it was the corpse of a man.
"Is this the fellow who attempted your life?" demanded Nemone.
"It is," replied Tarzan.
She turned suddenly upon Erot. "Did you ever see this man before?" she demanded.
Erot arose. He was white and trembled a little. "But, your majesty, he is only a common warrior," he countered.
I may have seen him often, yet have forgotten him; that would not be strange, I see so many of them."
"And you," the queen addressed a young noble standing near, "have you ever seen this man before?"
Often," replied the noble. "He was a member of the palace guard and in my company."
"How long has he been attached to the palace?" demanded Nemone. "Not a month, your majesty."
"And before that? Do you know anything about his prior service?"
"He was attached to the retinue of a noble, your replied the young officer hesitantly."
"What noble?" demanded Nemone.
"Erot," replied the witness in a low voice.
The queen looked long and searchingly at Erot. "You have a short memory," she said presently, an undisguised sneer in her voice.
Erot was pale and shaken. He looked long at the face of the dead man before he spoke again. "I do recall him now, your majesty, but he does not look the same. Death has changed him; that is why I did not recognize him immediately."
"You are lying," snapped Nemone. "There are some things about this affair that I do not understand. What part you have had in it, I do not know, but I am sure that you had some part, and I am going to find out what.
In the meantime you are banished from the palace. There may be others," she looked meaningfully at Tomos, "but I shall find them all out, and when I do it will be the lion pit for the lot!"
Rising, she descended from the throne, and all knelt save Tarzan. As she passed him on her way from the chamber, she paused and looked long and searchingly into his eyes. "Be careful," she whispered; "your life is in danger. I dare not see you for a while, for there is one so desperate that not even I could protect you should you visit my apartments again. Tell Gemnon to quit the palace and take you to his father's house. You will be safer there, but even then far from safe. In a few days I shall have removed the obstacles that stand between us. Until then, Tarzan, good-bye!"
The ape-man bowed, and the queen of Cathne passed on out of the audience chamber. The nobles rose. They drew away from Erot and clustered about Tarzan. In disgust the ape-man drew away. "Come, Gemnon," he said. "There is nothing to keep us here longer."
Xerstle blocked their way as they were leaving the chamber. "Everything is ready for the grand hunt!" he exclaimed, rubbing his palms together genially. "I thought this tiresome audience would prevent our starting today, but it is still early. The lions and the quarry are awaiting us at the edge of the forest. Get your weapon, and join me in the avenue."
Gemnon hesitated. "Who are hunting with you?" he asked.
"Just you and Tarzan and Pindes," explained Xerstle, "a small and select company that ensures a good hunt."
"We will come," said the ape-man.
As the two returned to their quarters to get their weapons, Gemnon appeared worried. "I am not sure that it is wise to go," he said.