For the next few days the road mender stays with us. He is a weak man on whom one can easily make an impression. Within a few minutes I can already feel his trepidation. I frighten him with my cold, unfeeling attitude. He is a man I may need to use latter. To this end I make a point of not noticing him or acknowledging him in any way, impressing on him my determination and ability to carry out whatever task I wish.
When Sunday comes and I announce I will accompany him and Earnest to see royalty he turns a delicate pale shade and stutters out, "Enchanted" even though he is not. His eyes flicker nervously over my kitting on our way to Versailles and as we stand waiting for the nobility to file out. He is not the only one who notices and another man in the crowd mentions my hard work. Knowing who is listening I say that I have much to do, which is true. When one lies the lie can come back to haunt one. So I make a point to always to tell the truth, though not the whole truth.
The man asks me what I make and I say many things. Again, I speak the truth for my symbols are multiple and varied.
"For instance–" he asks.
"For instance, shrouds." I reply with my usual composure. For indeed, I make shrouds for many people. The man moves away quickly and the road mender regards me with even greater alarm. But soon we hear the trumpets and the King and Queen present themselves.
I overwhelmed the man with my cool headedness and gained a fear from him that will last a lifetime. Royalty overwhelms him with a sudden display of glitter and jewels that will make a brief but stirring impression. I catch my husband's eye and Earnest reaches forward to grab the man's collar before he flies straight at them.
"Long live everybody" he cheers, jumping up and down and reducing himself to tears. For three hours we stand. I am knitting and he exhausts himself as he proves his devotion to beings that will never know his name. When it is over the impression that the glitter of jewels made disappears. My husband congratulates the man, telling him he did well. He made those fools believe that they have nothing to fear, for the common people love them and their wealth shall last forever. For the first time I speak to him. First I fix him with a cold look from my dark green eyes. Then I ask him if he would lavish such attention on all things that looked and acted as nobles did. He replies in the affinitive. Then I ask him two questions.
"If you were shown a great heap of dolls, and were set upon the, to pluck them to pieces and despoil them for your own advantage, you would pick out the richest and gayest. Say! Would you not?"
He answers yes, unable to look away from or lie to my piercing gaze. So I ask my second question. "Yes. And if you were shown a flock of birds unable to fly, and were set upon them to strip them of their feathers for your own advantage, you would set upon the birds of finest feathers; would you not?"
"It is true Madame." I nod once.
"You have seen both dolls and birds today," I said gesturing to the spot they were last. I stare steadily into his eyes until I see a flicker of comprehension that shows he understands. I inwardly smile and nod; he is a perfect tool. Releasing him from my gaze I look back to my knitting, "Now, go home."