"Heaven forbid! Why that's worse than even the Budget!"
"And in practice a simpler, easier trade than cooking."
"Even the changing of water into gold?"
"A matter of rule of thumb, like making bread. But I must not bore the Queen by talking shop."
Our Lady's eyes intently studied Brand. "Do you know," she said gravely, "that my advisers call you a public enemy."
The man looked up at her smiling. "They lie," he said frankly.
He dared to call her Chancellor a liar! "You will explain," she said.
"Oh, but I didn't want to offend you!"
Margaret smiled despite herself. "You said you would make gold cheap."
"I am so much a public enemy," he answered, laughing, and spoke with easy confidence of a new merchandise in wares of gold, of plates and cups, of lamps and ornaments, for the common use and comfort of the poor, such as had been beyond the means of kings. He spoke of dreary brick houses, and dismal streets annealed with rough gold, of silver columns and gemmed entablatures, of public monuments in golden bronze, of cities which will not rust, or tarnish, or get dirty, which frost cannot splinter or rain dissolve, their splendour imperishable and their celestial beauty. Margaret thought he had taken leave of his senses. For which of us in those days dreamed of the golden age or ever supposed that this should all come true?