“I never prophesy unless I have got a straight tip, but I see no reason why we should not win.”
“But elections always seem to be so uncertain.”
“They need not be so here, at any rate. It is the natural thing for the Government to win, and I believe it will.”
“But isn’t there something not quite right about that?”
“There might be in England, but not in Thracia. What good is a Government if it is not to tell the people how to vote?”
“But suppose they won’t vote as you tell them?”
“What should make them turn rusty? And besides, the local authorities throughout the country have received the warning they have always been accustomed to get from Drakovics, that any district which elects an Opposition candidate will immediately suffer a change in its governing body. Of course other precautions have been taken as well, but that is sufficient to show them that we mean business.”
“But did not M. Drakovics himself begin his career by winning an election against the Government candidate?”
“Yes, but the Government was caught napping first, and then bungled the whole thing. I don’t intend to repeat either mistake.”
“If he comes back there will be a struggle between him and me, for we cannot both rule in Thracia after what has happened. But if your precautions are so complete, Cyril, what is M. Drakovics depending upon? You don’t think that he has really accepted his defeat, and means to retire altogether?”