We came not a moment too soon, youngster.

What do you here ?" "Why," said I, "it chanced that I spoke slightingly of their precious nonsense of a White Wolf.

But they dared not do me harm.

They were all more frightened than a giggling maiden is of the dark, when no man is with her." Then I saw my father at the end of the hall.

He came towards me, clad in his black Tribunal costume.
"Well," he said, quaintly, like one that has a jest with himself which he will not tell, "have you had enough of marching hand-in-glove with treason?
I wot this mummery of the White Wolf will serve you for some time." I was proceeding to tell him all that had passed, but he patted me on the shoulder.
"I heard it all, lad, and you did well enough--save for your windiness about liberty and the Free Cities--which, as I see it, are by far the worst tyrannies.