She
said that every one would be so completely in every one else's power that
there was no fear of any one's turning traitor. But she said nothing
about George's intention of setting out for the capital on Wednesday
morning to tell the whole story to the King.
"Now," she said, when she had told him as much as was necessary, "be
good, and do as you said you would."
"I will. I will deny myself, not once, nor twice, but as often as is
necessary. I will kiss the reliquary, and when I meet Hanky and Panky at
your table, I will be sworn brother to them--so long, that is, as George
is out of hearing; for I cannot lie well to them when he is listening."
"Oh yes, you can. He will understand all about it; he enjoys falsehood
as well as we all do, and has the nicest sense of when to lie and when
not to do so."
"What gift can be more invaluable?"
My father, knowing that he might not have another chance of seeing Yram
alone, now changed the conversation.
"I have something," he said, "for George, but he must know nothing about
it till after I am gone."
As he spoke, he took from his pockets the nine small bags of nuggets that
remained to him.
"But this," said Yram, "being gold, is a large sum: can you indeed spare
it, and do you really wish George to have it all?"
"I shall be very unhappy if he does not, but he must know nothing about
it till I am out of Erewhon.
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