Telesma was backed up by Bezděchovský. The venerable sorcerer had not only heard of Rupilius, but had met him personally, years before, in Padua. Rupilius, he announced, might indeed help Samson. But no one knew if he’d agree to, because in Padua he’d proved himself to be an arrogant and unobliging arsehole.

Astonishingly, Samson himself treated the project quite sceptically and coolly. Samson hardly participated in the discussion, just grunting now and then. He didn’t argue for or against and said nothing most of the time. But Reynevan now knew him too well. Samson simply didn’t count on the expedition’s success. When he finally agreed to take part, Reynevan couldn’t help but get the impression he was doing it out of politeness.

That left Scharley. Reynevan knew Scharley’s opinion about the venture before asking him. But he did so, for form’s sake.

“It’s simply idiotic,” Scharley said calmly. “Furthermore, it’s beginning to remind me of Silesia two years ago and the memorably enthusiastic odyssey to rescue Miss Adèle. An expedition to Trosky looks similarly devised and would probably be carried out similarly, and I can already see the result in my mind’s eye. You’ll probably never grow wise, Reinmar.

“You claim that we have obligations regarding Samson, that we owe him something,” he continued, a little quieter and more seriously. “Perhaps you’re right, I don’t deny it. But life remains life, and the chief rule of life requires us to forget about debts like that, strike them from our memory. The thing with life is that you should look after number one. Love thy neighbour by all means, but not to one’s own disadvantage. I claim we’ve done plenty for Samson, and if the opportunity arises, we’ll do more. And the opportunity will occur, I’m certain, sooner or later. All we must do is sit down and wait patiently for that opportunity. Why bother looking for it, which sounds suspiciously like looking for trouble? Let’s look after number one, Reinmar, because that’s of prime importance. And what risk are you exposing us to, laddie? Where do you plan to lead us? There’s turmoil, war, fire, chaos, disorder and lawlessness around us. It’s not a good time for madcap expeditions. Never mind unprepared ones.”