Friday, November 13, 2020

Don't hide what doesn't need to be hidden

     Sapt attended her to the door, set a sentry at the end of the pssage with orders that Her Majesty should on no pretence be disturbed, promised her very audibly to return as soon as he possibly could, and respectfully closed the door after she had entered. The Constable was well aware of the value in a secret business of doing openly all that can safely be done with openness.

(Magicians use the same principle of obscuring one movement by making another very visible.)

(from Rupert of Hentzau, by Anthony Hope)

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