The Keepers of the People

1031“It is not needful to kill many,” said Prince Ralph. “It is four years since the people of the village on the lake were executed; and then they died by hemlock. Surely you could learn to execute people by an easy death like that. I only kill by the sword, when I wish to make the lesson striking.”

1032“Yes: I might learn to kill them painlessly without worrying about it,” said Althea.

1033Prince Ralph smiled.

1034“What had the lake villagers done?” she said presently.

1035“A prater had been working mischief among them; and they were filled with new thoughts. They said that the land was their own, and they would not pay the tithes. They would not serve in the army; and they would not mend the highroad. There was a fight; and they are dead; some died in the fight, the rest by hemlock. The outlying villages give all the trouble. Life is harder for them; and sometimes they are hungry. I do all I can to prevent it; but sometimes I fail.”

1036For a few days after the unfortunate birth there was a gloom over the dinners in the great hall. The Princes in their vexation, talked less; Colonel Sayers was disappointed that there would be no young Prince to teach swordsmanship, and the arts of war; and the Doctor and the Naturalist were disturbed by the ill-humour of the others. Prince Ralph lightened his mind in the Pavilion of Wonderful Delights, where Latchimi, as the girl from over the hills was called, soothed his irritation by her beauty, and untiring adoration. She was the daughter of a gipsy mother, and sometimes would entertain him far into the night with the fantastic stories learned by that strange people on their thousand wanderings; and her comments on them were full of the half-mystical lore gathered from the experience of the race. He listened to them often with interest, for now they came down to the very bed-rock of human nature, and now they seemed to show a dim vision through the veil into a supernatural. Beyond a doubt the girl herself had glimpses of a strange insight, some quality of the seer. He found her the most exquisite toy he had ever played with; and she inspired into him a curious fondness.