The Short Reign of Pippin IV by John Steinbeck Page A

are honest where they are disinterested. I believe that most people are vulnerable where they are interested. I believe that some men are honest in spite of interest. It seems to me reprehensible to search out areas of weakness and to exploit them.”
    â€œAren’t you going to have some difficulty being king, sir?” Tod asked.
    â€œHe is already,” Clotilde said bitterly. “He not only wants to be above everything, every human weakness, he wants his family to be too. He wants everybody to be good—and people just aren’t good.”
    Pippin said, “Stop there, miss! I will not have you say that. People are good—just as long as they can be. Everybody wants to be good. That is why I resent it when goodness is made difficult or impossible for them.”
    Uncle Charlie said vindictively, “Before they came in, you were talking about power. You were saying, I believe, that a king without power is emasculate. If that is so, my dear nephew, what do you think of the proposition that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely?”
    The king said, “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts, perhaps fear of a loss of power.”
    â€œBut does not power create in other men the impulse which must cause fear in the holder of power? Can power exist without the ultimate fear that makes corruption? Can you have one without the other?”
    â€œOh, dear!” said Pippin. “I wish I knew.”
    Uncle Charlie bored in. “If you took power, don’t you think the very people who made you king would turn against you?”
    The king threw up his hands, “And you told me to relax! To you these things are only ideas. To me—I eat them and dress in them, breathe them and dream of them. Uncle Charlie, this is no intellectual game to me. It is anguish.”
    â€œMy poor child,” said Uncle Charlie. “I did not mean to hurt you. Wait! I will get another bottle. This time you shall have it without water.”
    Tod watched the king sip his brandy and ruddy relaxation come over him. The tremble went out of his hands and lips and he loosened his muscles to the embrace of the velvet chair.
    â€œThank you,” he said to Uncle Charlie. “This is exquisite cognac.”
    â€œIt should be. It has been waiting around since the Treaty of Ghent. Will you have a little more? You will notice I have not offered it to these commoners.”
    Tod Johnson picked Clotilde’s hand from her lap and held it between both of his.
    â€œI’ve been worried, sir,” he began uneasily. “You know I’ve been dating your daughter. I like her. Under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn’t give a—I mean I’d just go ahead—but, you see, sir, I like you too, and, well—I want to ask you—”
    Pippin smiled at him. “Thank you,” he said. “I guess one of the hard things about being king is that no one can afford to like the king, nor can the king dare to like anyone. You are worried because Clotilde is a royal princess, is that not so?”
    â€œWell, yes, and you know all the trouble they have had in England. I don’t want to hurt her and, well—I’m—I don’t want to get hurt myself.”
    Clotilde broke in angrily. “Toddy, is it that you place yourself to absorb a powder?”
    â€œI don’t think I understand,” said Pippin. “What is this powder?”
    Tod laughed. “Clotilde is taking a Berlitz course in American slang. I think her instructors are a little confused about it too. She means am I winding up for a run-out.”
    â€œPreparing to say adieu,” Uncle Charlie filled in.
    The king asked kindly, “And are you?”
    â€œThat’s what I don’t know. Now what I want to ask you is this: I’ve been reading a little. The French kings have always observed the Salic Law, is that not so? And this law says that women cannot succeed. Isn’t that