Jarvo lifted his face to the solitary summit light upon the mountain.
"But how does one ascend?" cried St. George.
"By permission of Prince Tabnit," replied Jarvo, "one is borne up by six imperial carriers, trained in the service from birth. One attempting the ascent alone would be dashed in pieces."
"No municipal line of airships?" ventured Amory in slow astonishment.
"The airships, adôn," he said, "belong to the imperial household and are kept at the summit of Mount Khalak."
"A trust," comprehended Amory; "an absolute monarchy is a bit of a trust, anyhow. Of course, it's sometimes an outraged trust..." he murmured on.
"The adôn," said Jarvo humbly, "will understand that we, I and Akko, have borne great risk. It is necessary that we make our peace with all speed, if that may be. The very walls are the ears of Prince Tabnit, and it is better to be behind those walls. May the gods permit the possible."
"Do you mean to say," asked St. George, "that we too would better look out the prince at once?"
"The adôn is wise," said Jarvo simply, "but nothing is hid from Prince Tabnit."
St. George considered. In this mysterious place, whose ways were as unknown to him and to his companions as was the etiquette of the court of the moon, clearly diplomacy was the better part of valour. It was wiser to seek out Prince Tabnit, if he had really arrived on the island, than to be upon the defensive.
"Ah, very well," he said briefly, "we will visit the prince."
"Farewell, adôn," said Jarvo, bowing low, "may the gods permit the possible."
"Of course you will communicate with us to-morrow," suggested St. George, "so that if we wish to send Rollo down to the yacht--"
"The gods will permit the possible, adôn," Jarvo repeated gently.
There was a flash of Akko's white teeth and the two little men were gone.
St. George and Amory turned to the descending of the wide white steps. Such immense, impossible white steps and such a curious place for these two to find themselves, alone, with a valet. Struck by the same thought they looked at each other and nodded, laughing a little.
"Alone in the distance," said Amory, emptying his pipe, "and not a cab to be seen."
Rollo thrust forward his lean, shadowed face.
"Shall I look about for a 'ansom, sir?" he inquired with perfect gravity.