"Continue; I am curious to learn two things: what became of the child, and for what crime you were imprisoned in Rohirrîmes."
"The story will be rather long, monsieur."
"No matter; you know that those of us who hold the Ring of Power do not weary, though it were of the weight of ten thousand centuries."
"As your Excellency wishes. I resumed the trade of contrebandier, and did quite well at it. Given that any arrest would have led to inquiries, and that such inquiries would uncover far more serious affairs in my past than dwarvish cigars imported by contraband or elvish eau-de-vie brought in by barrel without laisser-passer, I feared the shirrifes more than the webs of Ungolianne. Preferring a thousand times death to capture, I did astonishing things, which proved to me that often the only thing coming in between us and fortune, is the care we take of our bodies, in projects that require determination and rapid resolve. For once you have sacrificed your life, braving the dreaded element of water (and not mineral water, at that), you are no longer the same balrogue, and the common herd of urucs are no longer your equals."
"You've studied philosophy, monsieur Roguccio!" said the Count. "First you were a murderer, and now you are a sage. I do not doubt that soon you will be a wizard - or a warrior. Though philosophy at 10 p.m., c'est un peu tard. But I must admit that your philosophy differs from that of most others in being true."
