Heliobas pushed a chair gently towards him.
"Sit down, Ivan," he said quietly.
The Prince obeyed, and covered his face with his hand as though in deep and earnest meditation.

I looked on in silence and wonderment.

Heliobas spoke not another word, and together we watched the pensive figure in the chair, so absorbed in serious thought.

Some minutes passed.

The gentle tick of the clock in the outer hall grew almost obtrusive, so loud did it seem in the utter stillness that surrounded us.