“You have no desire for commercial success?”
“Not the slightest.”
The old man caught at the cedar tree as if to steady himself before a firing squad.
“My son, I will not stand in your way.”
Then he slowly proceeded down the path, glancing neither to left nor to right.
“Marvin, I assume that you will not be precipitate. Give her time. I wish I were Laban, and could make you serve seven years.”
“I’m game, sir.”
“Better keep off business topics. She’s patriotic, but she’s like the girls who mobbed Cato. She can’t be driven.”
“What had Cato done?”
“He wanted their earrings to convert into war galleys. He was determined to crush Carthaginian competition in business. They declined, not that they loved Rome less but that they loved earrings more. And my daughter loves her island.”