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"Perhaps I am," returned Watson, utterly confounded. He did not know what to say. He had never heard of a Kospian or a D'Hartian, nor of the Mahovisal. It made things difficult; he couldn't get started. Most of all, he wanted information; and, instead, he was being questioned. The best he could do was to equivocate. As for the Rhamda, he frowned.
They are waiting; and they will head us off if they can." "The work of Senestro, I suppose. I thought he claimed to some honour." "It is not the prince's work, my lord," replied the soldier. "His D'Hartian and Kospian followers, some of them, have no scruples as to how they might slay the 'false one', as they think you." "Suppose," hazarded Watson, "suppose I WERE the false one?"
It was not his intention, just at present, to tie himself down to anything that might prove compromising or restraining. "The name is familiar. Who is this Nervina?" "She is one of the queens. I thought My dear sir, she is one of the queens of Thomahlia, half Kospian, half D'Hartian; of the first royal line running through from the day of the Jarados." Chick cogitated for a moment.
"Stranger," spoke the Bar, "indeed you ARE an athlete! What is your nationality Kospian?" "Neither Kospian nor D'Hartian; I am an American. True, there are some who have said that I am built like a man; I pride myself that I can conduct myself like one." "And speak impertinently." Still in the best of humour, the prince coolly reached out and felt Watson's biceps. His eyes became still brighter.
But none of them spoke. After the first murmur of comment they lapsed into silence again. It was the Bar Senestro who broke the tension. "May I ask, Rhamda Geos, why you make such an assertion? What proof have you, to begin with, that this man," indicating Watson with a nod, "is not merely one of ourselves: a D'Hartian or a Kospian?"
But the Bar was totally unconvinced. "All this is childish. Did I not say he is of our world D'Hartian or Kospian, or some other? Does not all Thomahlia know of the Nervina? Few have seen the Rhamda Avec, but what of it? Some have. What this stranger says proves nothing at all. I say, give him a test." "The test?" from Geos, in a hushed tone. "Just that.
And his manner was a bit indefinite, doubtful, yet weighted with care, as he slowly repeated the question: "An American? Once more I don't understand. I have never heard the word, my dear sir. You are neither D'Hartian nor Kospian; although there are some materialists for the most part who contend that you are just as any one else. That is a man."
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