"And you now fill half his offices."

"Would that he might soon be relieved of the last half of his burden.
Not on my own account. I love strife, but for the welfare of our native
land. It is a deep-seated feeling of our natures to regard the
utterances and mandates of age as wisdom, so there are few among the
councillors who do not follow the old man's opinions; yet his policy
limps on crutches, like himself. All good projects are swamped under his
weak, fainthearted guidance."

"That is the very reason my vote is at your disposal," cried the warrior.
"That is why I am ready to use all my might to hurl this sleeper from the
throne and get rid of his foolish advisers."

The prophet laid his finger on his lips to warn his companion to be more
cautious, drew nearer to him, pointed to his litter, and said in a low,
hurried tone:

"I am expected at the Sublime Porte, so listen. If Hosea's mission is
successful his people will return--the guilty with the innocent--and the
latter will suffer. Among the former we can include the whole of Hosea's
tribe, who call themselves the sons of Ephraim, from old Nun down to the
youth in your dwelling."

"We may spare them; but Mesu, too, is a Hebrew, and what we do to him..."

"Will not occur in the public street, and it is child's play to sow
enmity between two men who desire to rule in the same sphere. I will
make sure that Hosea shall shut his eyes to the other's death; but