he was now calling Litsia. I expected he had one or more elsewhere. For example, I had not seen a certain blonde about whom he often used in his dramatic farces, in various roles, such as that of the Golden Courtesan. She, and perhaps one or two others, I did not know, were in this very building, or elsewhere, chained or caged, as a surety for the lodging fees. If he wished to use one of them in some farce, or such, he would perhaps take that one, and leave another, say, Litsia, as he now called her, with the agent, or his men. Such women, being properties, may be used as sureties, to be taken over by the creditors of their former master's creditors. There are many variations on this sort of thing. For example, it is not unknown for one fellow, desiring the slave of another, to advance his fellow money, perhaps for gambling, in the hope that he may not be able to pay it back, in which case the creditor, in accord with the contractual arrangements, may claim the slave. Also, of course, it is not unusual, in serious cases, for a debtor's properties to be seized and auctioned, that his debts may be satisfied. These properties include, of course, his livestock, if any, which category includes slaves. Daughters, too, in some cities, are subject to such seizure and sale. Also, a female debtor, in many cities, is subject to judicial enslavement, she then coming rightlessly and categorically, identically with any other slave, into the ownership of the creditor.
'Shall I tell him that two guardsmen are asking after him?' asked the fellow. 'No, just say, 'two friends',' I said.
'I am not his friend,' said Marcus.
'One friend,' I called.
'I see,' said the fellow from above, carefully. 'There are two fellows calling for him, who do not wish him to know they are guardsmen, one of whom is his friend, and one of whom is not, and both of whom are armed, and seem ready to unsheath their weapons at a moment's notice, if not earlier.'
'I am sure he is here,' I said. 'So do not return and tell us he is not in.'
'Shall I go up with him?' asked Marcus.
'No, no!' said the fellow above, quickly.
'You realize,' said Marcus, 'that the fellow may elude us, over the roofs, or climb out on a ledge, and fall to his death, or lower himself by means of a rope to the alley from the room?'
'Or disappear into thin air?' I asked.
'Possibly,' grumbled Marcus, who had not yet, I fear, been persuaded to an attitude of skepticism in such matters.'
'I have it,' I said. Then I called up to the fellow on the landing. 'Tell him,' I said, 'that the world's worse actor desires to speak with him.'
'That seems a strange request,' said the fellow with the lantern.
'Not so strange as you might think,' I said.
'Very well,' he said. He then turned about and began to climb the flights of stairs upward, toward the least desirable, hottest, most dangerous levels of the insula. We watched the flickering light of the lantern making its way irregularly up the walls on either side of the staircase, and then, eventually, saw it fade and disappear.
'He whom you seek is now doubtless making his exit,' said Marcus.
An urt hurried down the stairs and darted along the side of the wall and through a crack in the wall.
Marcus swiftly drew his sword.
'No,' I said, staying his hand. 'That is not he.'
'Are you sure?' asked Marcus.
'Pretty sure,' I said.
'Perhaps we should wait out back,' said Marcus. 'Perhaps he can see in the dark.'
'It's dark out there,' I said.
In a moment, however, we heard the stairs shaking and creaking, from flights above, and then, in a bit, apparently feeling his way by the walls at the sides of the stairs, down came the bulk of the large fellow, his paunch swaying, his robes flying behind him.
'He moves with great rapidity,' said Marcus. 'Perhaps he can see in the dark?'
'No,' I said.
'Perhaps he is part sleen,' he said.
'Some have claimed more than a part,' I said.
Marcus whistled softly, to himself.
'He knows the stairs,' I said, somewhat irritably. 'So, too, would you, if you lived here.'
Then the great bulk was on the floor of the hall, rushing toward me.
Without a moment's hesitation it seized me in a great embrace.
Then we joyfully held one another at arm's length.
'How did you know it was me?' I asked.
'It could be no other!' he cried, delightedly.
'Who is this?' he asked, regarding Marcus.
'My friend, Marcus,' I said, 'of Ar's Station.'
'The state of knaves, traitors, and cowards?' inquired the ponderous fellow. I restrained Marcus.
'I am pleased to meet you!' said the ponderous fellow, extending his hand. 'Beware,' I said to Marcus, 'or he will have your wallet!'
'Here is yours,' said the fellow, handing mine back to me.
'That was neatly done,' I said. I was genuinely impressed. 'Is there anything left in it?'
'Almost everything,' said the fellow.
Gingerly, standing back, Marcus extended his hand.
The ponderous fellow seized it and shook it vigorously. It was Marcus' sword hand. I trusted it would not be injured. We might have need of it.
'How did you know where to find me?' asked the ponderous fellow.
'Inquiries, and a couple of silver tarsks, at the theater,' I said.
'It is good to know one has friends,' he said.
'Do you do your wonders by magic or trickery?' asked Marcus.
'Most often by trickery,' said the fellow, 'but sometimes, I admit, when I am tired, or do not wish to take the time and trouble required for tricks, by magic.'
'See!' said Marcus to me, triumpantly.
'Really, Marcus,' I said.
'It is as I told you!' he insisted.
'If you would like a demonstration,' said the large fellow, solicitously, ' I could consider turning you into a draft tharlarion.'
Marcus turned white.
'Only temporarily, of course,' the fellow assured him.
Marcus took another step back.
'Do not fear,' I said to Marcus. 'There is not enough room in the hall for a draft tharlarion.'
'You are as practical as ever!' said the large fellow, delightedly. Then he turned to Marcus. 'When a wagon would be stuck in the mud, it was always he who would first discover it! When there wasn't enough to eat, it would be he who would be the first to notice!'
I did have a good appetite, of course.
'I do not wish to be turned into a draft tharlarion,' said Marcus.
'Not even temporarily?' I urged.
'No!' said Marcus.
'Have no fear,' said the fellow. 'I couldn't do that if I wished.'
'But you saida€”,' said Marcus.
'I said I could consider turning you into a draft tharlarion,' he said, 'and that is quite easy to do, considering such a matter. The difficulty arises in accomplishing it.'
'Am I mocked?' asked Marcus.
'Actually his name is 'Marcus',' I said.
Marcus regarded me, startled.
'I see that your wit is as sharp as ever!' said the ponderous fellow.
'Thank you,' I said. I thought the sally had been deft. I am not sure Marcus knew what to do in the presence
