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Page 451
Chapter Twenty-Four
It was quite remarkable, Simon thought, how hard of heart a happy man was. He knew that in the common saying much sorrow made the heart hard and bitter, but when he was troubled he was quick to weep for the troubles of others. Now that there was a constant song of joy inside him, he did not care a fig for what grieved other men. Richard might sorrow over a lost cause. Simon found he had much ado to maintain a suitable gravity, let alone feel any sympathy.
Everything added to his happiness. He had Alinor. He would soon be free of his heavy-hearted master. He was going home, home to a land and people he understood and loved, to work he understood and loved. For this little time, Simon was following Alinor's advice. He was not looking ahead, although he knew trouble loomed on the horizon. Richard would never breed an heir on Berengaria, nor any other woman. This experience with marriage had finished any hope for a female connection for the King. That meant that sooner or later John would be king.
It was an unsavory and depressing prospect. The only hope was that John would rebel against Richard and die in battle, and that was a very unlikely thing. John was no coward in the sense of being senselessly afraid. Merely, battle was no joy to him. He was cautious and very conscious that his death would end his power and ambition. Richard did not think that way. In fact, Simon had come to believe that the unhappy King, happy only when he wielded sword and lance, sought death in battle. It was more likely that Rich-

 
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