court [kɔ:t], courteous [ˈkə:tɪəs], sweat [swet]
At a court festival, Nabonidus, the Red Priest, who was the real ruler of the city, touched Murilo, the young aristocrat, courteously on the arm. Murilo turned to meet the priest's enigmatic gaze, and to wonder at the hidden meaning therein. No words passed between them, but Nabonidus bowed and handed Murilo a small gold cask. The young nobleman, knowing that Nabonidus did nothing without reason, excused himself at the first opportunity and returned hastily to his chamber. There he opened the cask and found within a human ear, which he recognized by a peculiar scar upon it. He broke into a profuse sweat and was no longer in doubt about the meaning in the Red Priest's glance.
But Murilo, for all his scented black curls and foppish apparel was no weakling to bend his neck to the knife without a struggle (однако Мурило, несмотря на свои надушенные черные кудри и фатоватый наряд, не был слабаком, который бы склонил свою выю под нож без борьбы). He did not know whether Nabonidus was merely playing with him or giving him a chance to go into voluntary exile (он не знал, то ли Набонидус лишь играет с ним, то ли дает ему шанс уехать в добровольную ссылку), but the fact that he was still alive and at liberty proved (но то, что он еще был жив и на свободе, доказывало) that he was to be given at least a few hours (что ему дают, по крайней мере, несколько часов), probably for meditation (вероятно, на размышление). However, he needed no meditation for decision (однако ему не нужно было размышлять, чтобы принять решение); what he needed was a tool (что ему было нужно, так это орудие;