Together we went back into the palace, and to the library. There I saw were many newspapers for the day piled together on the table.
She sat down beside these with pen and ink and paper, and opening the first at the leading article began to scan the lines. Seeing that the papers really came from the earth I drew nearer.
“What are you doing?” I asked at length, when I had watched her busily employed in underlining and writing out various statements from each column.
“I’m copying out all the lies,” she answered simply.
“The what?” I asked again.
“The untruths,” she said apologetically.
“They seem pretty numerous in to-day’s papers,” I laughed.
“No indeed,” she went on. “There are fewer than usual. No matter however small the prevarication may be, I can always spot it.”
“But what is your pleasure in such an unpleasant task?”
“It is no pleasure—it is business, and needs thorough concentration.”