“There were the like olden speeches of cargoes taken out and cargoes brought back, of the planting of our people in new lands, and their doings; of spoils taken. Pfui! how sick am I of it! How great is my wish to put some other in my place to hearken to it all!”
“But the people would not have it. It hath ever been the custom of the kings.”
“A custom of the fools! How weary I grow of it! This day I was almost in sleep. But one thing I heard that roused me!”
“What heardst thou?”
He was rubbing his hands gloatingly, his long, thin, cruel hands.
“What thinkest thou, Atlana?”
“I think not. Tell me.”
He waited, delighting to prolong her impatience; and then drawled:
“We have heard—that—will force—us—to—”
“To what?”