It is his business to be ready for any attack on the part of those who are jealous at our power.

The whole Fatherland is a sword in his hand, which he sheathes.

It would long ago have leaped from the scabbard but for him." "Against whom ?" asked Michael.

"Who is the enemy ?" Falbe hesitated.
"There is no enemy at present," he said, "but the enemy potentially is any who tries to thwart our peaceful expansion." Suddenly the whole subject tasted bitter to Michael.

He recalled, instinctively, the Emperor's great curiosity to be informed on English topics by the ordinary Englishman with whom he had acquaintance.
"Oh, let's drop it," he said.