There was  absolute silence  in Wienis' chambers  when the image  of PrinceLefkin appeared at the televisor. There had been one startled gasp¹ from theregent at  the haggard  face and shredded  uniform of his son,  and then hecollapsed  into a  chair,  face contorted  with surprise  and apprehension².
Hardin  listened stolidly,  hands  clasped lightly  in his  lap,  while thejust-crowned King  Lepold sat  shriveled in the most  shadowy comer, bitingspasmodically  at his goldbraided  sleeve. Even  the soldiers had  lost theemotionless stare that is  the prerogative³ of the military, and, from wherethey lined  up against the door, nuclear  blasts ready, peered furtively⁴ atthe figure upon the televisor.
Lefkin spoke,  reluctantly, with a tired voice  that paused at intervals⁵ asthough he were being prompted-and not gently:
"The  Anacreonian navy  ...  aware of  the nature  of  its mission  ... andrefusing  to be  a party ...  to abominable  sacrilage ... is  returning toAnacreon ...  with the following ultimatum  issued ... to those blasphemingsinners ... who would  dare to use profane⁶ force ... against the Foundation... source  of all blessings⁷ ... and against  the Galactic Spirit. Cease atonce all  war against ...  the true faith .  . . and guarantee  in a mannersuiting us of the navy ... as represented by our ... priest-attendant, TheoAporat  ... that  such war  will never  in the  future ... be  resumed, andthat"? here a  long  pause, and  then continuing  ?and that  the one-timeprince  regent,   Wienis  ...  be  imprisoned   ...  and  tried  before  anecclesiastical court ... for  his crimes. Otherwise the royal navy ... uponreturning to Anacreon ...  will blast the palace to the ground ... and takewhatever other measures ... arenecessary ... to destroy  the nest of sinners ... and the

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