John Star was still standing stiffly in front of the table.
Adam Ulnar came around beside him to take his arm persuasively.
“John,” he said,
“I like you.
Even when you were very small—I suppose you don’t remember when we were ever together—you displayed qualities I approve.
Your courage, and that stubborn determination which is about to keep us apart now, was one of them— something left out of my nephew’s disposition.
“I’ve been interested in your career, John—I’ve followed it more closely than you ever knew.
Your progress at the Academy—everything you have done—was reported to me in detail.
“I had no son of my own, John.
And the family of Ulnar isn’t very large—just Eric, the son of my unfortunate elder brother, and you and I.
Eric is twelve years older than you are, John.
He was pampered in his youth.
He was always told that one day he would be Emperor of the Sun; he was spoiled.
“And I don’t quite like the results, John.
Eric is weak; he’s headstrong, and yet a coward.
This alliance with the creatures from the planet of the Runaway Star was a coward’s device—he made it without my knowledge, because he feared my own plans for the revolution would fail.
“Anyhow, with you, I tried a different way.
I put you in the Academy and left you ignorant of your high destiny.
I wanted you to learn to depend on yourself, to develop some character and resource and courage of your own.
“This last experience has been a sort of test, John.
And it has proved, I think, that you have everything I had hoped for.
Besides, I like you, John.”
“Yes?” said John Star, coldly, and he waited.
“The Empire is going to be restored.
Nothing can halt our plans, now, John.
The Green Hall is doomed.
But I don’t want to set a weakling back on the throne.
Ulnar is an old name, a proud name, John.
Our ancestors paid for the Empire, with blood and toil and brains.
I don’t want our name disgraced, as such a man as Eric might disgrace it.”
“You mean———” cried John Star, astounded.
“By all this, you mean that I———”
“That’s it, my boy!”
Adam Ulnar was smiling at him with pleasure on his proud, distinguished face, and a fond hope.
“That’s it. I don’t want Eric to be Emperor of the Sun, when the Green Hall surrenders.
“The new Emperor shall be you!”
John Star stood motionless, staring dumfounded into that fine strong face, with its crown of snowy hair.
“Yes, you shall be Emperor, John,” Adam Ulnar repeated softly, warmly smiling.
“Your claim is really better than Eric’s. You are in the direct line of descent.
I have proof.”
John Star shook off his hand then, and moved back a step, laughing incredulously.
“What’s the matter, John?”
The tall Commander seemed deeply concerned.
“You don’t———”
“No!”
John Star caught his breath, and spoke decisively. “I don’t want to be Emperor.
If I were ever Emperor, I’d abdicate.
I’d restore the Green Hall.”
Adam Ulnar went slowly back behind the table, and sat down heavily, wearily.
A long time he sat silently, watching John Star’s tense, determined figure with a frown of painful thought.