First, it would have been difficult to decide between the two countries that had established it; and, secondly, he was too brilliant a politician to risk the possible association of failure with his own person; thirdly, there was something the matter with the East.
This last point was difficult to understand; it had not yet become explicit, but it seemed as if the movement of last year had not yet run its course.

It was undoubtedly difficult to explain the new President's constant absences from his adopted continent, unless there was something that demanded his presence elsewhere; but the extreme discretion of the East and the stringent precautions taken by the Empire made it impossible to know any details.

It was apparently connected with religion; there were rumours, portents, prophets, ecstatics there.
* * * * * Upon Percy himself had fallen a subtle change which he himself was recognising.

He no longer soared to confidence or sank to despair.

He said his mass, read his enormous correspondence, meditated strictly; and, though he felt nothing he knew everything.