Yet what a position of difficulties it is, and how much depends on the choice a king makes. I had made up my mind to regulate my life to moderation; for that, it seems to me, is the safest course. Let a king be over-powerful, it is almost certain that he will injure his country by trying to do those things which are more than any one man can attempt. Let a king be weak, he will fail through being ruled instead of ruling, so that the power which should be his gets into the hands of men who are, perhaps, guided chiefly by self-interest, and the result will be anarchy, chaos, and perhaps the destruction of monarchical rule.
I must have stood by the window for a good twenty minutes, turning things over in my mind, before I turned and looked at Zeula.
"Well," I said, "I am ready, or shall be when the time comes; but remember that, when it does, Rudarlia may have ceased to be a kingdom, who knows?"
"God knows, we are in His hands."
"Amen; but He has given us brains and arms, strong men with brave hearts, and unless He fights against us we will win, I know it."
"We will, but when that day comes, Victor, where will the King be?"
"In his proper place, at the head of his army."
"Is that your proper place? You have no heir."
"Would you have me sit here while my army is in the field?"
"It would be better, much better."