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nse wealth。
Agaric made a gesture of refusal。 Then； standing on his long feet and pressing his melancholy hat against his stomach； he remained silent。
〃Take a seat；〃 said Cornemuse to him。
Agaric sat down on a rickety stool； but continued mute。
Then the monk of Conils inquired：
〃Tell me some news of your young pupils。 Have the dear children sound views？〃
〃I am very satisfied with them；〃 answered the teacher。 〃It is everything to be nurtured in sound principles。 It is necessary to have sound views before having any views at all； for afterwards it is too late。 。 。 。 Yes； I have great grounds for comfort。 But we live in a sad age。〃
〃Alas！〃 sighed Cornemuse。
〃We are passing through evil days。 。 。 。〃
〃Times of trial。〃
〃Yet； Cornemuse； the mind of the public is not so entirely corrupted as it seems。〃
〃Perhaps you are right。〃
〃The people are tired of a government that ruins them and does nothing for them。 Every day fresh scandals spring up。 The Republic is sunk in shame。 It is ruined。〃
〃May God grant it！〃
〃Cornemuse； what do you think of Prince Crucho？〃
〃He is an amiable young man and； I dare say； a worthy scion of an august stock。 I pity him for having to endure the pains of exile at so early an age。 Spring has no flowers for the exile； and autumn no fruits。 Prince Crucho has sound views； he respects the clergy； he practises our religion； besides； he consumes a good deal of my little products。〃
〃Cornemuse； in many homes； both rich and poor； his return is hoped for。 Believe me； he will come back。〃
〃May I live to throw my mantle beneath his feet！〃 sighed Cornemuse。
Seeing that he held these sentiments； Agaric depicted to him the state of people's minds such as he himself imagined them。 He showed him the nobles and the rich exasperated against the popular government； the army refusing to endure fresh insults； the officials willing to betray their chiefs； the people discontented； riot ready to burst forth； and the enemies of the monks； the agents of the constituted authority； thrown into the wells of Alca。 He concluded that it was the moment to strike a great blow。
〃We can；〃 he cried； 〃save the Penguin people； we can deliver it from its tyrants； deliver it from itself； restore the Dragon's crest； re…establish the ancient State； the good State； for the honour of the faith and the exaltation of the Church。 We can do this if we will。 We possess great wealth and we exert secret influences； by our evangelistic and outspoken journals we communicate with all the ecclesiastics in towns and county alike； and we inspire them with our own eager enthusiasm and our own burning faith。 They will kindle their penitents and their congregations。 I can dispose of the chiefs of the army； I have an understanding with the men of the people。 Unknown to them I sway the minds of umbrella sellers； publicans； shopmen； gutter merchants； newspaper boys； women of the streets； and police agents。 We have more people on our side than we need。 What are we waiting for？ Let us act！〃
〃What do you think of doing？〃 asked Cornemuse。
〃Of forming a vast conspiracy and overthrowing the Republic； of re…establishing Crucho on the throne of the Draconides。〃
Cornemuse moistened his lips with his tongue several times。 Then he said with unction：
〃Certainly the restoration of the Draconides is desirable； it is eminently desirable； and for my part； desire it with all my heart。 As for the Republic； you know what I think of it。 。 。 。 But would it not te better to abandon it to its fate and let it die of the vices of its own constitution？ Doubtless； Agaric； what you propose is noble and generous。 It would be a fine thing to save this great and unhappy country； to re…establish it in its ancient splendour。 But reflect on it； we are Christians before we are Penguins。 And we must take heed not to compromise religion in political enterprises。〃
Agaric replied eagerly：
〃Fear nothing。 We shall hold all the threads of the plot； but we ourselves shall remain in the background。 We shall not be seen。〃
〃Like flies in milk；〃 murmured the monk of Conils。
And turning his keen ruby…coloured eyes towards his brother monk：
〃Take care。 Perhaps the Republic is stronger than it seems。 Possibly； too； by dragging it out of the nerveless inertia in which it now rests we may only consolidate its forces。 Its malice is great； if we attack it； it will defend itself。 It makes bad laws which hardly affect us； if it is frightened it will make terrible ones against us。 Let us not lightly engage in an adventure in which we may get fleeced。 You think the opportunity a good one。 I don't； and I am going to tell you why。 The present government is not yet known by everybody； that is to say； it is known by nobody。 It proclaims that it is the Public Thing； the common thing。 The populace believes it and remains democratic and Republican。 But patience！ This same people will one day demand that the public thing be the people's thing。 I need not tell you how insolent； unregulated； and contrary to Scriptural polity such claims seem to me。 But the people will make them； and enforce them； and then there will be an end of the present government。 The moment cannot now be far distant； and it is then that we ought to act in the interests of our august body。 Let us wait。 What hurries us？ Our existence is not in peril。 It has not been rendered absolutely intolerable to us。 The Republic fails in respect and submission to us； it does not give the priests the honours it owes them。 But it lets us live。 And such is the excellence of our position that with us to live is to prosper。 The Republic is hostile to us； but women revere us。 President Formose does not assist at the celebration of our mysteries； but I have seen his wife and daughters at my feet。 They buy my phials by the gross。 I have no better clients even among the aristocracy。 Let us say what there is to be said for it。 There is no country in the world as good for priests and monks as Penguinia。 In what other country would you find our virgin wax； our virile incense； our rosaries； our scapulars； our holy water； and our St。 Orberosian liqueur sold in such great quantities？ What other people would； like the Penguins； give a hundred golden crowns for a wave of our hands； a sound from our mouths； a movement of our lips？ For my part； I gain a thousand times more； in this pleasant； faithful； and docile Penguinia； by extracting the essence from a bundle of thyme； than I could make by tiring my lungs with preaching the remission of sins in the most populous states of Europe and America。 Honestly； would Penguinia be better off if a police officer came to take me away from here and put me on a steamboat bound for the Islands of Night？〃
Having thus spoken； the monk of Conils got up and led his guest into a huge shed where hundreds of orphans clothed in blue were packing bottles； nailing up cases； and gumming tickets。 The ear was deafened by the noise of hammers mingled with the dull rumbling of bales being placed upon the rails。
〃It is from here that consignments are forwarded；〃 said Cornemuse。 〃I have obtained from the government a railway through the Wood and a station at my door。 Every three days I fill a truck with my own products。 You see that the Republic has not killed all beliefs。〃
Agaric made a last effort to engage the wise distiller in his enterprise。 He pointed him to a prompt； certain； dazzling success。
〃Don't you wish to share in it？〃 he added。 〃Don't you wish to bring back your king from exile？〃
〃Exile is pleasant to men of good will；〃 answered the monk of Conils。 〃If you are guided by me； my dear Brother Agaric； you will give up your project for the present。 For my own part I have no illusions。 Whether or not I belong to your party； if you lose； I shall have to pay like you。〃
Father Agaric took leave of his friend and went back satisfied to his school。 〃Cornemuse；〃 thought he； 〃not being able to prevent the plot； would like to make it succeed and he will give money。〃 Agaric was not deceived。 Such； indeed； was the solidarity among priests and monks that the acts of a single one bound them all。 That was at once both their strength and their weakness。
V。 PRINCE CRUCHO
Agaric resolved to proceed without delay to Prince Crucho； who honoured him with his familiarity。 In the dusk of the evening he went out of his school by the side door； disguised as a cattle merchant and took passage on board the St。 Mael。
The next day he landed in Porpoisea； for it was at Chitterlings Castle on this hospitable soil that Crucho ate the bitter bread of exile。
Agaric met the Prince on the road driving in a motor…car with two young ladies at the rate of a hundred miles an hour。 When the monk saw him he shook his red umbrella and the prince stopped his car。
〃Is it you； Agaric？ Get in！ There are already three of us； but we can make room for you。 You can take one of these young ladies on your knee。〃
The pious Agaric got in。
〃What news； worthy father？〃 asked the young prince。
〃Great news；〃 answered Agaric。 〃Can I speak？〃
〃You can。 I have nothing secret from these two ladies。〃
〃Sire； Penguinia claims you。 You will not be deaf to her call。〃
Agaric described the state of feeling and outlined