Part 3/7:
The mind of Saruman was plagued by envy. He would secretly visit the Shire to indulge in his pipe-weed addiction, fearful that news of his behavior would reach Gandalf. This duplicity paints Saruman not merely as a hypocrite but also as a deeply insecure individual, one who became a caricature of what he criticized.
Gandalf, acutely aware of Saruman’s secret, found amusement in the wizard's plight yet chose to remain silent on the matter. Gandalf’s respect for Saruman clouded his judgment, allowing him to accept his colleague's flaws rather than expose them.