The reply was favorable. Before he retired, however, Ren took advantage of the caution offered by Di Irons—he posted a guard in his chambers lest the Imaiz should feel inclined to take the initiative. An attempted assassination did not seem likely, but Ren had been an agent long enough to learn that warnings from an indigenous source were better not disregarded. Fortunately the night passed without incident and, at the appointed hour the next day, Ren traveled to the most eastern point of Firsthill and presented himself at Castle Di Rode. The contrasts between this establishment and that of Di Guaard made him realize what a fortune Di Guaard must spend on useless defence projects. Di Rode was a prodigious spender, but his considerable income from spaceport revenues had not been wasted. Castle Di Rode was bathed in an atmosphere of opulence and splendor. Though the castle was slightly smaller than that of Di Guaard, it differed in none of its essential features except that the walls and mural towers of Di Rode displayed none of the former’s austerity of outline.
