"Yes, Verisof said!
Verisof, next to Salvor Hardin, is your greatest enemy.
Stay with me, Lepold, and don't worry about them.
Together we will recreate an empire-not just the kingdom of Anacreon-but one comprising every one of the billions of suns of the Empire.
Is that better than a wordy
'Galactic Paradise'?"
"Ye-es."
"Can Verisof promise more?"
"No."
"Very well."
His voice became peremptory.
"I suppose we may consider the matter settled."
He waited for no answer.
"Get along. I'll be down later.
And just one thing, Lepold."
The young king turned on the threshold.
Wienis was smiling with all but his eyes.
"Be careful on these Nyak hunts, my boy.
Since the unfortunate accident to your father, I have had the strangest presentiments concerning you, at times. In the confusion, with needle guns thickening the air with darts, one can never tell.
You will be careful, I hope. And you'll do as I say about the Foundation, won't you?"
Lepold's eyes widened and dropped away from those of his uncle.
"Yes - certainly."
"Good!"
He stared after his departing nephew, expressionlessly, and returned to his desk.
And Lepold's thoughts as he left were somber and not unfearful.
Perhaps it would be best to defeat the Foundation and gain the power Wienis spoke of.
But afterward, when the war was over and he was secure on his throne- He became acutely conscious of the fact that Wienis and his two arrogant sons were at present next in line to the throne.
But he was king. And kings could order people executed. Even uncles and cousins. 4.
Next to Sermak himself, Lewis Bort was the most active in rallying those dissident elements which had fused into the now-vociferous Action Party.
Yet he had not been one of the deputation that had called on Salvor Hardin almost half a year previously.
That this was so was not due to any lack of recognition of his efforts; quite the contrary.
He was absent for the very good reason that he was on Anacreon's capital world at the time.
He visited it as a private citizen.
He saw no official and he did nothing of importance.
He merely watched the obscure comers of the busy planet and poked his stubby nose into dusty crannies.
He arrived home toward the end of a short winter day that had started with clouds and was finishing with snow and within an hour was seated at the octagonal table in Sermak's home.
His first words were not calculated to improve the atmosphere of a gathering already considerably depressed by the deepening snow-filled twilight outside…
"I'm afraid," he said, "that our position is what is usually termed, in melodramatic phraseology, a 'Lost Cause.'"
"You think so?" said Sermak, gloomily.
"It's gone past thought, Sermak.
There's no room for any other opinion."
"Armaments-" began Dokor Walto, somewhat officiously, but Bort broke in at once.
"Forget that.
That's an old story."
His eyes traveled round the circle.
"I'm referring to the people.
I admit that it was my idea originally that we attempt to foster a palace rebellion of some sort to install as king someone more favorable to the Foundation.
It was a good idea. It still is.
The only trifling flaw about it is that it is impossible.
The great Salvor Hardin saw to that."