“Dear”, he whispered at her ear, leading her by the hand to an ottoman in a near alcove.
She, in self-defence, was repellent, breathlessly saying with galloping haste: “No—I will not sit: you sit, and I will stand here: do as I say, Hogarth—or I repent and go: I know you, and you know me—or you should. Our talk must be short. You say dear to me: that is very gentle, my friend; but it was not to bandy such words that I am here—alone—with you and your strength—Hogarth. I come as a suppliant, to implore you—firstly for the man who is my father—and secondly for yourself, to warn you. You are said to be about to become the sovereign of England—”
“I am?”—starting where he sat obediently before her, surprised that she should utter the purpose then forming in his mind: “witch—of Endor!”
“I am not the witch, but an old lady in whose predictions many Jews believe, who prophesies the return of the Jews to Palestine—through you. Be that as it may, if it is so that you are about to meddle with the institutions of England, oh beware, the resistence will be terrible!”
“With respect to England I am omnipotent”.
“Yes, you can starve it, but will you? You won't. And listen to your friend: there is now in London a society, enormously powerful I believe, sworn to your destruction”.
“What can they do—assassinate me?”
“Ah! who knows?”
“That would be too childish: I have sown my seed in Time, and it will grow: two thousand little lords could hardly obliterate the ploughing of my wrist. But you know this?”
“Richard, my father is of them”.