"Yes, Sire. In reality, I am dead. And the police of my country, glad to be rid of me, have buried the charred and unrecognizable remains of my body."
"Then you are free?"
"As I always have been."
"And nothing attaches you to anything?"
"Nothing, Sire."
"In that case . . ."
The Emperor hesitated and then, explicitly:
"In that case, enter my service. I offer you the command of my private police. You shall be the absolute master. You shall have full power, even over the other police."
"No, Sire."
"Why not?"