The other brother of the King had been implicated in the Macassar plot, and this fact added to his natural vicious habits debarred him from any possibility of obtaining the throne. The fact of the King being in poor health, and of his having no heirs was favourable to ambitious designs. Pitracha though small in stature was high spirited. His physiognomy was interesting; his glittering eyes seemed to pierce the inmost depths of one's thoughts and although 56 years of age, he still had the strength of youth. His natural eloquence won the hearts of all. Popular amongst his subordinates, and haughty towards his rivals, he adopted even with the King, the tone of a censor animated by the public welfare. His frankness was a clever artifice by which he might reproach the King with his faults or those of his ministers, whom he rendered odious, by acting the part of the zealous citizen. Although he managed to conceal his criminal designs, his more indiscreet followers embittered the people by the announcement that the minister (Faulcon) in calling in the French soldiery was scheming to place the sceptre in their hands, and to raise Christianity on the ruins of the faith of their forefathers. The alarm or the nation was strengthened by the fact that Bangkok and Mergui had been handed over to the French and the same fact gave colour to their statements. Pitracha, calm in the midst of the general turmoil, pretended to deplore the evils for which in reality he was responsible. He had a rival for the King's favour, and he considered it wise to help his rival's claims so that he might the more readily be able to compass his downfall. There was a favourite at Court named Monpit aged twenty-two years whom the King had loaded with honours. The licence that both he and his relatives enjoyed, gave credit to the rumour that he was the offspring of a secret amour between the King and a concubine; and that he had been chosen as heir to the throne. The eyes of all were fixed on this rising star which was confidently expected to preside one day over the destinies of the nation. His inexperience rendered him an easy prey; and the favour he enjoyed rendered him unsuspicious. Pitracha, accustomed to Court life, where a kiss is the usual prelude to treachery, found in him a suitable tool for the accomplishment of his designs. He pointed out to him, that as he had been adopted by the King as his son, he had only one step to take to become his successor; but that he ought to act with boldness so as not to render the promises of fortune worthless. Monpit dazzled by visions of power, surrendered his will entirely to the counsels of an enemy in the guise of a patron. He begged Pitracha to act as his father and promised to share the throne with him. The Court was ruled by three men, all of whom were actuated by different motives.