"In politics you can accuse a man without any feeling of hatred?"
"I would not have him butchered."
"Not even if your opponent granted the Peacock Throne to Ali of Haidar?"
Brand's face flashed with anger. "My friend, spare me all mention of that," he said. "Is it a kind thing, Lord Sydney, to tear the old wound open?"
"Does it hurt me less? I'd go on if it killed both of us, and you shall listen."
"Perhaps you don't know," answered Brand, "that my young brother saw his wife crucified, before the rebels gouged out his eyes and burned him."
"Would you treat the man as a mere political opponent who granted the Peacock Throne to Ali of Haidar?"
"The Viceroy died by his own hand. He is beyond our vengeance."
"Vengeance?" cried Sydney, "my words bite deep. Is vengeance in your code of political courtesy? I tell you the man who granted Prince Ali's claims is still alive, within the reach of vengeance. He drove the Viceroy to suicide, and thought that under heaven there was no witness left to rise against him."
"That is beyond belief; there are limits even to treachery."