“The same opinions?”
“About the arrangement of society. You desire no more the assassination of the rich.”
“I never desired any such thing!” said Hyacinth indignantly.
“Oh if you’ve changed you can confess,” his friend declared in an encouraging tone. “It’s very good for some people to be rich. It wouldn’t be right for all to be poor.”
“It would be pleasant if all could be rich,” Hyacinth more mildly suggested.
“Yes, but not by stealing and shooting.”
“No, not by stealing and shooting. I never desired that.”
“Ah no doubt she was mistaken. But to-day you think we must have patience?” the Prince went on as if greatly hoping Hyacinth would allow this valuable conviction to be attributed to him. “That’s also my view.”
“Oh yes, we must have patience,” said his companion, who was now smiling to himself in the dark.
They had by this time reached the end of the little Crescent, where the Prince paused under the street-lamp. He considered the small bookbinder’s countenance for a moment by its help and then pronounced: “If I’m not mistaken you know very well the Princess.”