Another  week  rubbed away  before  the  meeting with  Pherl was  arranged.
Ponyets  felt the  tension,  but he  was used  to  the feeling  of physicalhelplessness now.  He had left city  limits under guard. He  was in Pherl'ssuburban villa  under guard. There was nothing to  do but accept it withouteven looking over his shoulder.
Pherl was  taller and  younger outside the  circle of Elders.  In nonformalcostume, he seemed no Elder at all.
He said  abruptly, "You're  a peculiar man."  His close-set eyes  seemed toquiver. "You've  done nothing  this last week, and  particularly these lasttwo hours, but imply that I need gold. It seems useless labor, for who doesnot? Why not advance one step?""It is  not simply gold,"  said Ponyets, discreetly. "Not  simply gold. Notmerely  a  coin  or   two.  It  is  rather  all  that  lies  behind  gold.""Now what  can lie behind  gold?" prodded Pherl, with  a down-curved smile.
"Certainly this  is not  the preliminary of  another clumsy demonstration.""Clumsy?" Ponyets frowned slightly.
"Oh, definitely."  Pherl folded his  hands and nudged them  gently with hischin. "I  don't criticize you. The clumsiness was on  purpose, I am sure. Imight have warned his Veneration of that, had I been certain of the motive.
Now  had I  been you,  I would  have produced  the gold  upon my  ship, andoffered it  alone. The show you  offered us and the  antagonism you arousedwould have been dispensed with.""True,"  Ponyets  admitted,  "but  since  I  was  myself,  I  accepted  theantagonism for the sake of attracting your attention.""Is that  it? Simply that?" Pherl  made no effort to  hide his contemptuousamusement. "And I imagine  you suggested the thirty-day purification periodthat you might assure yourself time to turn the attraction into something abit  more  substantial. But  what  if the  gold  turns out  to be  impure?"Ponyets allowed himself a dark humor in return, "When the judgement of thatimpurity depends  upon those who  are most interested in  finding it pure?"Pherl lifted his eyes  and stared narrowly at the trader. He seemed at oncesurprised and satisfied.
"A  sensible   point.  Now  tell   me  why  you  wished   to  attract  me.""This I will do. In the short time I have been here, I have observed usefulfacts that  concern you and  interest me. For instance,  you are young-veryyoung for a member  of the council, and even of a relatively young family.""You criticize my family?""Not at  all. Your ancestors are  great and holy; all  will admit that. Butthere are those  that say you are not a member of  one of the Five Tribes."Pherl leaned  back, "With  all respect to  those involved," and  he did nothide his  venom, "the Five  Tribes have impoverished loins  and thin blood.
Not fifty members of the Tribes are alive.""Yet there are those who say the nation would not be willing to see any manoutside  the Tribes  as  Grand Master.  And so  young and  newly-advanced afavorite of  the Grand Master is  bound to make powerful  enemies among thegreat  ones of  the State  ?it is  said. His  Veneration is aging  and hisprotection will  not last past his death, when it is  an enemy of yours whowill  undoubtedly  be  the  one to  interpret  the  words  of his  Spirit."Pherl  scowled, "For  a foreigner  you hear  much. Such  ears are  made forcropping.""That may be decided later.""Let me  anticipate." Pherl stirred impatiently  in his seat. "You're goingto offer  me wealth  and power in&nbs............