"They will shoot all the better with good guns; as for the obsolete ones, why, I intend some day to make a present of them to Bornia."
"A present?"
"Certainly, and in such a way that they will not fear the gift."
He paused a little and then said:
"I must wait your Majesty's pleasure; I do not understand. But may I ask whether you intend to fortify Karena, Soctia, and other places?"
"It is my intention."
"But your Majesty forgets, perhaps, the size of heavy artillery; how can such pieces enter the country without being detected?"
"Prince Alexis supplied me with the way; I had the will before. You have no doubt heard that there are minerals to be found around Karena, and other places of like importance."
"I have heard of them."
"Good! I have surveyors seeking them now. When they have found them it will be in places of supreme importance from the military point of view."