"The old dreams, and the thing I have dreamt, liberty, happiness. Are they dreams? Could one man—one man—?" His voice sank and ceased.
"Not one man, but all men—give them only a leader to speak the desire of their hearts."
He shook his head, and for a time there was silence.
He looked up suddenly, and their eyes met. "I have not your faith," he said, "I have not your youth. I am here with power that mocks me. No—let me speak. I want to do—not right—I have not the strength for that—but something rather right than wrong. It will bring no millennium, but I am resolved now that I will rule. What you have said has awakened me.… You are right. Ostrog must know his place. And I will learn—… One thing I promise you. This Labour slavery shall end."
"And you will rule?"
"Yes. Provided— There is one thing."
"Yes?"
"That you will help me."
"I!—a girl!"
"Yes. Does it not occur to you I am absolutely alone?"
She started and for an instant her eyes had pity. "Need you ask whether I will help you?" she said.
"I am very helpless."
"Father and Master," she said. "The world is yours."
There came a tense silence, and then the beating of a clock striking the hour. Graham rose.
"Even now," he said, "Ostrog will be waiting." He hesitated, facing her. "When I have asked him
388
