Alan Sisto

In a way, that's exactly what's happening here because Saruman is afraid.

It's fear that's driving this.

And, yeah, it's – and, of course, Saruman thinks like – everybody thinks like he does.

So that's the thing, right?

It's an echo of that earlier line we read.

I don't know if this was last week or the week before.

He was himself so far fallen that he believed all others of the council had each their deep and far-reaching policies for their own enhancement.

Of course, because he does.

Therefore, everybody else must too.

But would that be a good idea?

Because if the ring is seeking for its master... And his master's close by.

His master's not far, and you find it, do you think it's going to stop looking for its master?

Oh, I found a new master now?

No, no.

But I think that might be why it gets struck through because Tolkien himself, as Christopher explains, said later that based on Gandalf's story in the Council of Elrond about his encounter with Radagast, he did not suspect Saruman's treachery at that point.

In fact, he didn't suspect him until he became imprisoned in Orthanc.

And I think it would help us to kind of grasp that more fully if we actually take a look at the context.

Let's go back to that moment in the council.

This is where Gandalf is telling the story of his meeting with Radagast.

I turned then east and north and journeyed along the greenway, and not far from Bree I came upon a traveller sitting on a bank beside the road with his grazing horse beside him.