[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfile:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20Fred%20-%20Lost%20Swords%203%20-%20Stonecutter's%20Story.txt at present.You will appreciate that I extend to all my clients the same confidentiality I would extend to you, were I retained by you personally, or by the Blue Temple."This speech did not go down well with either of Wen Chang's priestly hearers, who exchanged grim looks.Then the Director still attempted to deny the presence of the Great Orb, and even disclaimed any knowledge of its whereabouts.The Magistrate was growing impatient with them."Come, come! I know that the gem we are speaking of is in this city, and I am almost certain that it is within the walls of this very building."At this point the Chief Priest asked Wen Chang and Kasimir, politely enough, to step into another room while he had a private discussion with his Security Director.Wen Chang signed agreement and got to his feet."Of course, gentlemen.But I advise you not to take too long to make up your minds to listen to me.In this matter time is of great importance."The Director glared at him."It seems to me that we could all save time if you would condescend to tell us the source of your alleged information."The Magistrate appeared to be maintaining his patience only with an effort."Even if I was willing to break confidence with my client-which I am not-nothing I could tell you about the source would help you in the least to prevent the theft.By the way, I suppose you are perfectly sure that the stone is secure at this moment?"This question threw the two high authorities into a state of considerable confusion, impossible to conceal.As an open argument began between them, Wen Chang and Kasimir were conducted away by an underling.They were deposited in a comfortable anteroom and left alone with the door closed.They glanced at each other, but neither had anything to say.It was obvious to both of them that any conversation they held would almost certainly be overheard.The duration of their wait dragged on, to a length that Kasimir, at least, had not expected.Wen Chang waited with newly imperturbable patience, hands clasped in his lap, his weathered face impassive as a mask.But Kasimir was bothered by mounting apprehension.Had they somehow unwittingly precipitated a real crisis in the local Blue Temple leadership? Had they-but such speculations were pointless.Eventually a silent attendant brought them refreshment on a tray, tea and cakes in portions of hardly more than symbolic size.Both courteously declined.Following that they were again left alone for almost an hour, when a group of temple officials, including the High Priest and the Director of Security, suddenly entered the anteroom.They brought with them a newcomer, an outsider to the temple, a man attired in the uniform of an officer of the city Watch, in theHetman's colors of gray and blue.This was a large grizzled veteran of about forty.As soon as this man's eyes fell on Wen Chang, he stepped forward and opened his arms in greeting.Page 54ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Magistrate!" His voice was a bass roar."They told me there was someone here I might recognize, but they never gave me a hint that it was you.It's years since we have worked together-how are you?"Wen Chang, smiling, had arisen to return the greeting heartily."I am healthy and busy as you see.And how are you, my friend Almagro? It is indeed too long a time since we have seen each other, but you do not appear to have changed much."After Kasimir had been duly introduced to Captain Almagro, the two veterans spent a few moments more in private conversation, most of it reminiscing about a particularly filthy gang of bandits they had once succeeded in luring into an annihilating ambush.In this exchange of memories they must have removed from the minds of their priestly hearers any lingering doubts of the Magistrate's true identity.file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20.st%20Swords%203%20-%20Stonec utter's%20Story.txt (40 of 111) [2/4/03 9:51:23 PM]file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20Fred%20-%20Lost%20Swords%203%20-%20Stonecutter's%20Story.txtThe discussion turned away from the bandit gang.Almagro mentioned how, after several unlikely sounding adventures, he had come to be now in the employ of the Hetman."And a good thing I am here, too, for now I may be able to return the great favor that you, Magistrate, once did for me."Wen Chang made a dismissive gesture and objected mildly."It was a matter of no consequence.""On the contrary, I consider my life to be a rather significant component of the universe.So tell me, what brings you and your friend to Eylau, Magistrate? A job of thief taking?""I thank you for your generous offer of help, Captain, and it may be indeed that my associate and I will want to call upon you in the near future.As to the exact nature of our mission in Eylau, I must tell you that I am bound by an oath of secrecy.Just at the moment, however, our problem concerns the Orb of Maecenas.What can you tell us about its current safety?"At this point in the conversation the Director of Security appeared to be trying to say something urgent, while at the same time wanting to avoid the disclosure of any information at all.He was rescued from this self-strangled state by the Captain of the Watch, who shook his head at him ruefully."I'm afraid the presence of the gem here in the temple is no longer a secret,"CaptainAlmagro told the official almost apologetically."One hears about it these days in the streets."The Chief Priest, a vein outstanding in his forehead, was fixing a baleful glance upon hisDirector of Security."I am going," Theodore said, "directly from this room to the lapidary's workshop, there to see for myself whether the Orb is still in our hands or not at this moment." His eyes swept fiercely around the little group."I want all Page 55ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl centka.pev.pl
.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfile:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20Fred%20-%20Lost%20Swords%203%20-%20Stonecutter's%20Story.txt at present.You will appreciate that I extend to all my clients the same confidentiality I would extend to you, were I retained by you personally, or by the Blue Temple."This speech did not go down well with either of Wen Chang's priestly hearers, who exchanged grim looks.Then the Director still attempted to deny the presence of the Great Orb, and even disclaimed any knowledge of its whereabouts.The Magistrate was growing impatient with them."Come, come! I know that the gem we are speaking of is in this city, and I am almost certain that it is within the walls of this very building."At this point the Chief Priest asked Wen Chang and Kasimir, politely enough, to step into another room while he had a private discussion with his Security Director.Wen Chang signed agreement and got to his feet."Of course, gentlemen.But I advise you not to take too long to make up your minds to listen to me.In this matter time is of great importance."The Director glared at him."It seems to me that we could all save time if you would condescend to tell us the source of your alleged information."The Magistrate appeared to be maintaining his patience only with an effort."Even if I was willing to break confidence with my client-which I am not-nothing I could tell you about the source would help you in the least to prevent the theft.By the way, I suppose you are perfectly sure that the stone is secure at this moment?"This question threw the two high authorities into a state of considerable confusion, impossible to conceal.As an open argument began between them, Wen Chang and Kasimir were conducted away by an underling.They were deposited in a comfortable anteroom and left alone with the door closed.They glanced at each other, but neither had anything to say.It was obvious to both of them that any conversation they held would almost certainly be overheard.The duration of their wait dragged on, to a length that Kasimir, at least, had not expected.Wen Chang waited with newly imperturbable patience, hands clasped in his lap, his weathered face impassive as a mask.But Kasimir was bothered by mounting apprehension.Had they somehow unwittingly precipitated a real crisis in the local Blue Temple leadership? Had they-but such speculations were pointless.Eventually a silent attendant brought them refreshment on a tray, tea and cakes in portions of hardly more than symbolic size.Both courteously declined.Following that they were again left alone for almost an hour, when a group of temple officials, including the High Priest and the Director of Security, suddenly entered the anteroom.They brought with them a newcomer, an outsider to the temple, a man attired in the uniform of an officer of the city Watch, in theHetman's colors of gray and blue.This was a large grizzled veteran of about forty.As soon as this man's eyes fell on Wen Chang, he stepped forward and opened his arms in greeting.Page 54ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Magistrate!" His voice was a bass roar."They told me there was someone here I might recognize, but they never gave me a hint that it was you.It's years since we have worked together-how are you?"Wen Chang, smiling, had arisen to return the greeting heartily."I am healthy and busy as you see.And how are you, my friend Almagro? It is indeed too long a time since we have seen each other, but you do not appear to have changed much."After Kasimir had been duly introduced to Captain Almagro, the two veterans spent a few moments more in private conversation, most of it reminiscing about a particularly filthy gang of bandits they had once succeeded in luring into an annihilating ambush.In this exchange of memories they must have removed from the minds of their priestly hearers any lingering doubts of the Magistrate's true identity.file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20.st%20Swords%203%20-%20Stonec utter's%20Story.txt (40 of 111) [2/4/03 9:51:23 PM]file:///F|/rah/Fred%20Saberhagen/Saberhagen,%20Fred%20-%20Lost%20Swords%203%20-%20Stonecutter's%20Story.txtThe discussion turned away from the bandit gang.Almagro mentioned how, after several unlikely sounding adventures, he had come to be now in the employ of the Hetman."And a good thing I am here, too, for now I may be able to return the great favor that you, Magistrate, once did for me."Wen Chang made a dismissive gesture and objected mildly."It was a matter of no consequence.""On the contrary, I consider my life to be a rather significant component of the universe.So tell me, what brings you and your friend to Eylau, Magistrate? A job of thief taking?""I thank you for your generous offer of help, Captain, and it may be indeed that my associate and I will want to call upon you in the near future.As to the exact nature of our mission in Eylau, I must tell you that I am bound by an oath of secrecy.Just at the moment, however, our problem concerns the Orb of Maecenas.What can you tell us about its current safety?"At this point in the conversation the Director of Security appeared to be trying to say something urgent, while at the same time wanting to avoid the disclosure of any information at all.He was rescued from this self-strangled state by the Captain of the Watch, who shook his head at him ruefully."I'm afraid the presence of the gem here in the temple is no longer a secret,"CaptainAlmagro told the official almost apologetically."One hears about it these days in the streets."The Chief Priest, a vein outstanding in his forehead, was fixing a baleful glance upon hisDirector of Security."I am going," Theodore said, "directly from this room to the lapidary's workshop, there to see for myself whether the Orb is still in our hands or not at this moment." His eyes swept fiercely around the little group."I want all Page 55ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]