28/36 No one dared to go against his will, or to utter taunt or threat to him. He was paramount, with all the powers of an emperor--the power, indeed, of life and death. Therefore he was not in the habit of being either thwarted or criticised, and I could see that my words had aroused within him a boiling tumult of resentment and of rage. I told him nothing of the loss of my wallet or of the precious document that it had contained. My defiance was merely upon principle. |