There was in his feeling for them that knowledge of a complete
dependence by which young children draw and hold a mother's love.
Paul Howard Alexis was not a man to analyze his thoughts. Your strong
man is usually ignorant of the existence of his own feelings. He is
never conscious of them. Paul walked slowly through the village of
Osterno, and realized, in his uncompromising honesty, that of the nine
hundred men who lived therein there were not three upon whom he could
rely. He had upheld his peasants for years against the cynic truths of
Karl Steinmetz. He had resolutely refused to admit even to himself that
they were as devoid of gratitude as they were of wisdom. And this was
the end of all!
One of the men following him hurried on and caught him up.
"Excellency," he gasped, breathless with his haste, "you must not come
here alone any longer. I am afraid of them--I have no control."
Paul paused, and suited his pace to the shorter legs of his companion.
"Starosta!" he said. "Is that you?"
"Yes, Excellency. I saw you go into the kabak, so I waited outside and
watched. I did not dare to go inside. They will not allow me there. They
are afraid that I should give information."
"How long have these meetings been going on?"
"The last three nights, Excellency, in Osterno; but it is the same all
over the estate.
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