Anita Arnand

It's a brilliant story.

There's lovely details.

He's spending most of this evening with Manuela.

He's completely feverish and he's in a cold bath trying to bring his temperature down.

And they're just talking.

And she's warning him, you know what, I think there's a weird feeling.

And he said, yes, yes, it's been so quiet.

Obviously, I've been made the president dictator, so it must be time for a palace coup.

He's sort of like this bitter, dark laugh.

And she says, well, there could be 10 coups in the offing for all the attention you pay.

And so she's sort of scolding him that he's saying all this, but he's not really taking it seriously.

No, he's in bed now.

He's in bed now, but I can't attest to what he was wearing.

He's in bed with her.

What?

So he leaps up.

He wants to grab a gun and go out and confront them.

She says, get back, you bloody idiot, and grabs a sword and then unlatches the door.

And they can hear from where they are, long live liberty and death to the tyrant being shouted up and down the corridors.

And instead of letting him charge out, Manuela says, for God's sake, don't be an idiot.