There had been one startled gasp from theregent at  the haggard  face and shredded  uniform of his son,  and then hecollapsed  into a  chair,  face contorted  with surprise  and apprehension bicelle b5 gel.
Hardin  listened stolidly,  hands  clasped lightly  in his  lap,  while thejust-crowned King    shadowy comer, bitingspasmodically  at his goldbraided  sleeve. Even  the soldiers had  lost theemotionless stare that is  the prerogative of the military, and, from wherethey lined  up against the door, nuclear  blasts ready, peered furtively atthe figure upon the televisor.
Lefkin spoke,  reluctantly, with a tired voice  that paused at intervals 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 profane force ... against the Foundation... source  of all blessings ... 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 den of destroyers... of men's souls that now prevail."The   voice  ended   with   half  a   sob  and   the  screen   went  blank.
Hardin's fingers  passed rapidly  over the nucleo-bulb and  its light fadeduntil in the dimness,  the hitherto regent, the king, and the soldiers werehazy-edged shadows;  and for the first  time it could be  seen that an auraencompassed Hardin.
It was  not the  blazing light that  was the prerogative of  kings, but oneless spectacular,  less impressive, and  yet one more effective  in its ownway, and more useful Coffee Maker.