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nine o'clock；' he thought。 'I could now eat three breakfasts on end。'
'Lead the Lord Mithrandir to the housing prepared for him；' said Denethor； 'and his panion
may lodge with him for the present； if he will。 But be it known that I have now sworn him to my
service； and he shall be known as Peregrin son of Paladin and taught the lesser pass…words。 Send
word to the Captains that they shall wait on me here； as soon as may be after the third hour has rung。
'And you； my Lord Mithrandir； shall e too； as and when you will。 None shall hinder your
ing to me at any time； save only in my brief hours of sleep。 Let your wrath at an old man's folly
run off and then return to my fort！'
'Folly？' said Gandalf。 'Nay； my lord； when you are a dotard you will die。 You can use even your
grief as a cloak。 Do you think that I do not understand your purpose in questioning for an hour one
who knows the least； while I sit by？'
'If you understand it； then be content；' returned Denethor。 'Pride would be folly that disdained
help and counsel at need； but you deal out such gifts according to your own designs。 Yet the Lord
of Gondor is not to be made the tool of other men's purposes； however worthy。 And to him there is
no purpose higher in the world as it now stands than the good of Gondor； and the rule of Gondor；
my lord； is mine and no other man's； unless the king should e again。'
'Unless the king should e again？' said Gandalf。 'Well； my lord Steward； it is your task to
keep some kingdom still against that event； which few now look to see。 In that task you shall have
all the aid that you are pleased to ask for。 But I will say this： the rule of no realm is mine； neither of
Gondor nor any other； great or small。 But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands；
those are my care。 And for my part； I shall not wholly fail of my task； though Gondor should perish；
if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to
e。 For I also am a steward。 Did you not know？' And with that he turned and strode from the hall
with Pippin running at his side。
Gandalf did not look at Pippin or speak a word to him as they went。 Their guide brought them
from the doors of the hall； and then led them across the Court of the Fountain into a lane between
tall buildings of stone。 After several turns they came to a house close to the wall of the citadel upon
the north side； not far from the shoulder that linked the hill with the mountain。 Within； upon the
first floor above the street； up a wide carven stair； he showed them to a fair room； light and airy；
with goodly hangings of dull gold sheen unfigured。 It was sparely furnished； having but a small
table； two chairs and a bench； but at either side there were curtained alcoves and well…clad beds
within with vessels and basins for washing。 There were three high narrow windows that looked
northward over the great curve of Anduin； still shrouded in mists； towards the Emyn Muil and
Rauros far away。 Pippin had to climb on the bench to look out over the deep stone sill。
'Are you angry with me； Gandalf？' he said； as their guide went out and closed the door。 'I did the
best I could。'
'You did indeed！' said Gandalf； laughing suddenly； and he came and stood beside Pippin； putting
his arm about the hobbit's shoulders and gazing out of the window。 Pippin glanced in some wonder
at the face now close beside his own； for the sound of that laugh had been gay and merry。 Yet in the
wizard's face he saw at first only lines of care and sorrow； though as he looked more intently he
perceived that under all there was a great joy： a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom laughing；
were it to gush forth。
'Indeed you did your best；' said the wizard； 'and I hope that it may be long before you find
yourself in such a tight corner again between two such terrible old men。 Still the Lord of Gondor
learned more from you than you may have guessed； Pippin。 You could not hide the fact that
Boromir did not lead the pany from Moria； and that there was one among you of high honour
who was ing to Minas Tirith； and that he had a famous sword。 Men think much about the
stories of old days in Gondor； and Denethor has given long thought to the rhyme and to the words
_Isildur's Bane_； since Boromir went away。
'He is not as other men of this time； Pippin； and whatever be his descent from father to son； by
some chance the blood of Westernesse runs nearly true in him； as it does in his other son； Faramir；
and yet did not in Boromir whom he loved best。 He has long sight。 He can perceive； if he bends his
will thither； much of what is passing in the minds of men； even of those that dwell far off。 It is
difficult to deceive him； and dangerous to try。
'Remember that！ For you are now sworn to his service。 I do not know what put it into your head；
or your heart； to do that。 But it was well done。 I did not hinder it； for generous deed should not be
checked by cold counsel。 It touched his heart； as well （may I say it） as pleasing his humour。 And at
least you are free now to move about as you will in Minas Tirith – when you are not on duty。 For
there is another side to it。 You are at his mand； and he will not forget。 Be wary still！'
He fell silent and sighed。 'Well； no need to brood on what tomorrow may bring。 For one thing；
tomorrow will be certain to bring worse than today； for many days to e。 And there is nothing
more that I can do to help it。 The board is set； and the pieces are moving。 One piece that I greatly
desire to find is Faramir； now the heir of Denethor。 I do not think that he is in the City； but I have
had no time to gather news。 I must go。 Pippin。 I must go to this lords' council and learn what I can。
But the Enemy has the move； and he is about to open his full game。 And pawns are likely to see as
much of it as any； Peregrin son of Paladin； soldier of Gondor。 Sharpen your blade！'
Gandalf went to the door； and there he turned。 'I am in haste Pippin；' he said。 'Do me a favour
when you go out。 Even before you rest； if you are not to