“Not more so than his father is!” said Sir Roger, with a smile.
“Ach so! That would be difficult, I grant you!” agreed the Professor; “As I told you, Roger, at the beginning of this drama in which we have both played our little parts; no harm ever came undeservedly to a brave man with a good conscience!”
“True! And no harm has come to the King—as yet!” said Sir Roger thoughtfully. “But I sometimes fear one man——!”
“Sergius Thord?” suggested Von Glauben; “To speak honestly, so do I! But I watch him—I watch him closely! He loves Lotys, as a tiger loves its mate,—and if he should ever suspect——!”
“Hush!” said Roger quickly; “Do not speak of it! I assure you I am always on guard!”
“Good! So am I! But Thord is too busy just now climbing the hill to look either backward or aside. When he reaches the summit, it is possible he may see the whole landscape at a glance!”
“He will reach the summit very soon!” said De Launay; “His election as deputy for the city, is certain. From the moment he announced himself as candidate, there has been no opposition.”
“He will be returned by an overwhelming majority,” said the Professor; “And he will gain all the power he has been working for. Also, with the power, he will obtain all the difficulty, responsibility, disappointment and bitterness. Power is a dangerous possession, unless it is accompanied by a cool head; and in that our friend Sergius Thord is lacking. He is a creature of impulse—and a savage creature too!—a half-educated genius,—than which nothing in the shape of humanity is more desperately difficult to manage!”
“Lotys can manage him!” said Sir Roger.
“That depends!” And the Professor rubbed his nose irritably. “Women are excellent diplomatists up to a certain point, but their limit is reached when they fall in love! Passion and enthusiasm transform them into quite as absurd fools as—men!”