Seldon's thoughtful stroll across the grounds was the epitome¹ of peace. It was hard to believe here, in the midst of the Emperor's immediate² domain³, that he was on a world that, except for this area, was totally enclosed by a dome⁴. Here, in this spot, he might be on his home world of Helicon or on Gruber's home world of Anacreon.
    Of course, the sense of peace was an illusion. The grounds were guarded-thick with security.
    Once, a thousand years ago, the Imperial Palace grounds-much less palatial⁵, much less differentiated⁶ from a world only beginning to construct domes⁷ over individual regions-had been open to all citizens and the Emperor himself could walk along the paths, unguarded, nodding his head in greeting to his subjects.
    No more. Now security was in place and no one from Trantor itself could possibly invade the grounds. That did not remove the danger, however, for that, when it came, came from discontented Imperial functionaries⁸ and from corrupt⁹ and suborned soldiers. It was within the grounds that the Emperor and his staff were most in danger. What would have happened if, on that occasion, nearly ten years before, Seldon had not been accompanied by Dors Venabili?
    It had been in his first year as First Minister and it was only natural, he supposed (after the fact), that there would be jealous heart-burning over his unexpected choice for the post. Many others, far better qualified¹⁰ in training-in years of service and, most of all, in their own eyes-could view the appointment with anger. They did not know of psychohistory or of the importance the Emperor attached to it and the easiest way to correct the situation was to corrupt one of the sworn protectors of the First Minister.

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