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he had seen in his dream and what doubts the dream had left in his mind。
〃That is a noble idea。 It proves the rare nobility of your spirit；〃 said
the old man。 〃But forgive me for speaking franklyyou are too kind to
be an emperor； and you exaggerate your responsibility。 In the first place；
the state of things is not as you imagine it to be。 The people are not poor。
They are well…to…do。 Those who are poor are poor through their own fault。
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
Only the guilty are punished； and if an unavoidable mistake does
sometimes occur； it is like a thunderbolt an accident； or the will of God。
You have but one responsibility： to fulfil your task courageously and to
retain the power that is given to you。 You wish the best for your people
and God sees that。 As for the errors which you have committed
unwittingly； you can pray for forgiveness； and God will guide you and
pardon you。 All the more because you have done nothing that demands
forgiveness； and there never have been and never will be men possessed of
such extraordinary qualities as you and your father。 Therefore all we
implore you to do is to live； and to reward our endless devotion and love
with your favour； and every one； save scoundrels who deserve no
happiness； will be happy。〃
〃What do you think about that？〃 the young Tsar asked his wife。
〃I have a different opinion；〃 said the clever young woman； who had
been brought up in a free country。 〃I am glad you had that dream； and I
agree with you that there are grave responsibilities resting upon you。 I
have often thought about it with great anxiety； and I think there is a simple
means of casting off a part of the responsibility you are unable to bear； if
not all of it。 A large proportion of the power which is too heavy for you；
you should delegate to the people； to its representatives； reserving for
yourself only the supreme control； that is； the general direction of the
affairs of State。〃
The Queen had hardly ceased to expound her views； when the old
courtier began eagerly to refute her arguments； and they started a polite
but very heated discussion。
For a time the young Tsar followed their arguments； but presently he
ceased to be aware of what they said； listening only to the voice of him
who had been his guide in the dream； and who was now speaking audibly
in his heart。
〃You are not only the Tsar；〃 said the voice； 〃but more。 You are a
human being； who only yesterday came into this world； and will
perchance to…morrow depart out of it。 Apart from your duties as a Tsar；
of which that old man is now speaking； you have more immediate duties
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
not by any means to be disregarded； human duties； not the duties of a Tsar
towards his subjects； which are only accidental； but an eternal duty； the
duty of a man in his relation to God； the duty toward your own soul； which
is to save it； and also； to serve God in establishing his kingdom on earth。
You are not to be guarded in your actions either by what has been or what
will be； but only by what it is your own duty to do。
***
He opened his eyeshis wife was awakening him。 Which of the three
courses the young Tsar chose； will be told in fifty years。
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