"His mind, did you say?" interrupted Goring; "His mind! verily it is a piece of most courtier-like flattery to imply that he ever had one,—it is very evident that you are fresh from Whitehall."
"Flattery," resumed the other, "would be a great waste of time there. No one has sufficiently the upper hand to make it worth while to flatter; and really it is a sort of thing too useful to be thrown away. In the House, Hazelrig and Vane counter balance each other. Hazelrig has all the influence of noise and obstinacy, but he is a fool; Vane has that of enthusiasm and talent, but he is mad. His reign for a thousand years over the faithful—a consummation in which he devoutly believes—will effectually prevent his attaining any other reign. Lambert's power is great with the soldiers; but others have power too. Some run wild, after the same fashion as Colonel Harrisson and wait for the inspirations of the spirit; others, again, are at the beck of their old commander, Lord Fairfax; while the northern army is under General Monk, who, among ourselves, is believed to be loyally disposed. By heavens! it raises my admiration of Cromwell to its height, when I think how he swayed these discordant materials—ay, and by his own strong hand and clear head alone."
