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sleeping； Denis。〃 Behind the master； his lady was already closing the door to the ascending stair。 〃The three of us will manage；〃 Courtenay went on。 〃The man's hurt； you say？〃
〃Looks like it； sir。〃
〃Still； we'll take no chances more than necessary。 Help yourself to a weapon； and stand by。〃
〃Yes sir。〃 In the year and a half that he had been at the House of Courtenay； Denis had learned that there were stretches of time in which life here began to seem dull。 But so far those stretches had never extended for any unbearable length of time。
Over on the far side of the shop； the mistress was lighting a couple of oil lamps。 And when she brought her hands down from the lamp shelf and faced around again； Denis thought that he saw something trailing from her right hand。 He caught only a glimpse of the object before it vanished between folds of her full robe。 But； had he not been convinced that Mistress Sophie was only a delicate little thing who loved her luxury； he would have thought that she was holding the leather thongs of a hunter's or a warrior's sling。
The more recent years of Denis's young life had been generally peaceful； first as an acolyte of Ardneh in the White Temple； then here in the House of Courtenay as apprentice trader and general assistant。 But he had spent the longer； earlier portion of his existence serving a different kind of apprenticeship。 That had been in the slum streets of Tashigang； and it had left him indelibly familiar with the more unpeaceful side of life。 So now he was reasonably calm as he moved to the display of decorative weapons that occupied a good part of one side of the large room。 There he selected an ornate battle…hatchet； a weapon of antique design but sharp…edged and of a pleasantly balanced weight。 With this in hand； Denis nodded that he was ready。
Master Courtenay； already standing by the back door； returned the nod。 Then he turned to the door and made use of the peephole and the Old World light。 In the next moment Courtenay had unbarred the door and yanked it open。 The crumpled body that had been sitting against it on the outside came toppling softly inward。
Denis sprang forward； quickly closed the door and barred it up again。 Meanwhile the master of the house had stretched the unconscious man out full length on the floor； and was examining him with the aid of the Old World light。
The mistress； one of the more conventional lamps in her hand； had e forward to look too。 Quickly she turned to Denis。 〃He's bleeding badly。 You were a servant of Ardneh； see what you can do for him。〃
Denis was not usually pleased to be asked to administer medical treatment； he knew too well his own great limitations in the art。 But his urge to please his mistress would not let him hesitate。 And he knew that his years in Ardneh's service had left him almost certainly better qualified than either of his employers。 He nodded and moved forward。
The man stretched out on the floor was not young； his unconscious face was weatherbeaten over its bloodless pallor； and the hair that fanned out in a wild spread on the flat stones was gray。 Standing； he would have been tall； with a well…knit； sturdy body marred by the old amputation。
〃His right arm is gone。〃 That was the mistress； speaking thoughtfully； as if she were only musing to herself。
Denis heard her only absently； the man's fresh wounds were going to demand a healer's full attention。 A lot of blood was visible； darker wetness on the rainsoaked clothing。
Quickly Denis began to peel back clothes。 He cut them away； when that was easier； with a keen knife that the master handed him。 He also tossed aside a mean…looking cudgel that he found tucked into the victim's belt。
〃I'll need water； and bandages；〃 he announced over his shoulder。 There were two wounds； and both looked bad。 〃And whatever medicines we have to stop bleeding。〃 He paused to mumble a minor spell for that purpose； learned in his days as Ardneh's servitor。 It was about the best that Denis could do in the way of magic； and it was very little。 Perhaps it brought some benefit； but it was not going to be enough。
〃I'll bring you what I can find；〃 replied the mistress of the house； and turned away with quick efficiency。 Again Denis was surprised。 He had long ago fixed her image in his mind as someone who existed to be pampered。。。 could that really have been a sling he'd seen her holding？
But now the present task demanded his full attention。 〃We ought to put him on my bed；〃 said Denis。 And Courtenay； strong as a loadbeast and disdaining help； scooped up the limp heavy form as if it had been that of a small child； and held it patiently while Denis maneuvered first the door to his room and then the coverings on his bed。
The hurt man's eyelids fluttered just as he was being put down on the bed； and he muttered a few words。 Denis heard something like： 〃Ben of Purkinje；〃 which certainly sounded like a name。 That of the victim himself？ No use asking。 He was out cold again。
Soon the mistress was back； with such useful items as she had been able to lay her hands on quickly； water and clean cloth。 She had also brought along a couple of medicine jars； but nothing that Denis thought was likely to help。 While Denis went to work washing and bandaging； the master picked up the sodden clothing that had been stripped away； and went quickly through the pockets。 But whatever Courtenay was looking for； he apparently did not find it。 With a sigh he threw the garments back on the floor and asked： 〃Well； Denis； what about him？〃
〃He's lost a lot of blood； sir。 And； where the wounds are； the bleeding's going to be hard to stop。 I've packed this hole in his side as best I can。〃 As he spoke Denis was still pressing a bandage into place。 〃We could use spider webs； but I don't know where to get a bunch of 'em quickly。 His knee isn't bleeding so much now； but it looks nasty。 If he lives； he won't be walking for a while。〃
The Old World light had been replaced in its customary wall niche； and the mistress had now brought one of the better ordinary lamps into Denis's room。 By the lamplight she and her husband were staring at each other with what struck Denis as curious expressions。
〃Knife wounds； I think；〃 said Master Courtenay； shifting his gaze at last back to Denis。
〃Yes sir； I would say that's what they are。〃
〃He couldn't have e very far in that condition。〃
〃I'd have to agree with that； sir。〃
The master nodded； and turned and walked out of Denis's room； leaving the door open behind him。 He didn't say where he was going； and nobody asked。 The mistress lingered。 Denis； observing the direction of her gaze； wondered what it was about the patient's arm…stump that she found so fascinating。
Having been a member of the household for a year and a half now； Denis was … sometimes； almost … treated like one of the family。 Now he made bold to ask； 〃Do you recognize him； Mistress？〃
〃I've never seen him before；〃 the lady answered； which to Denis sounded like the truth used as an evasion。 She added： 〃Will he live； do you think？〃
Before Denis had to try to make a guess sound like an expert opinion； there came again the sounds of someone at the back door of the shop。 The sounds were dif