“Very interesting,” said William, pleasantly. “How do you plan to go about becoming these pleasant things?”

“I was hoping,” said Donal, “maybe to learn something of the worlds by being out among them—something I might be able to use to my own advantage, as well as others.”

“Good Lord, is that all?” said the Freilander, and laughed in a way that invited the rest of the table to join in with him.

William, however, did not laugh— although Anea joined her own clear amusement to that of the commandant, and ArDell’s snorted chuckle.

“No need to be unkind, Hugh,” he said. “I like Donal’s attitude. I had the same sort of notion myself once—when I was younger.” He smiled in a kindly fashion on Donal. “You must come talk to me, too,” he said, “after you’ve had your chat with Hendrik. I like young men with ambition.”

ArDell snorted with laughter again. William turned to look sadly at him.

“You should try to eat, ArDell,” he said. “We’ll be making a phase shift in four hours or so; and if you don’t have something solid on your stomach—”

“My stomach?” said the young man, drunkenly. “And what if my stomach should reach universal dimensions, out of phase? What if I should reach universal dimensions; and be everywhere and never come back to point position again?” He grinned at Williams. “What a waste of good food.”

Anea had paled to a sickly color. “If you’ll excuse me—” she murmured, rising hastily.

“I don’t blame you a bit!” said William sharply. “ArDell, that was in inexcusable bad taste. Hugh, help Anea to her stateroom.”

“I don’t want him!” flared Anea. “He’s just like all the rest of you—” But the Freilander was already on his feet, looking almost like a recruiting poster in his trim uniform and coming around the table to take her arm. She jerked away from him, turned, and went unsteadily out of the lounge, Hugh following closely behind her. They passed through the doorway into the corridor, but as they turned to move out of sight, Donal saw her turn to the tall soldier and lean into the protection of his arm, just before they disappeared.

William was continuing to speak calm and acid words of disapprobation to ArDell, who made no retort, but gazed drunkenly and steadily back at him out of his black, unmoving eyes. During the rest of the meal the talk turned to military affairs, in particular field strategy, in which triologue—ArDell pointedly excluded—- Donal was able to win back some of the personal credit which his earlier remark about fame and riches had cost him—in the marshal’s eyes.