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society to which body and soul he belonged。 And all the other monks； his brethren； thought the same。 The Republic was perpetually at strife with the congregation of monks and the assembly of the faithful。 True； to plot the death of the new government was a difficult and perilous enterprise。 Still； Agaric was in a position to carry on a formidable conspiracy。 At that epoch； when the clergy guided the superior classes of the Penguins； this monk exercised a tremendous influence over the aristocracy of Alca。
All the young men whom he had brought up waited only for a favourable moment to march against the popular power。 The sons of the ancient families did not practise the arts or engage in business。 They were almost all soldiers and served the Republic。 They served it； but they did not love it； they regretted the dragon's crest。 And the fair Jewesses shared in these regrets in order that they might be taken for Christians。
One July as he was walking in a suburban street which ended in some dusty fields； Agaric heard groans coming from a moss…grown well that had been abandoned by the gardeners。 And almost immediately he was told by a cobbler of the neighbourhood that a ragged man who had shouted out 〃Hurrah for the Republic！〃 had been thrown into the well by some cavalry officers who were passing； and had sunk up to his ears in the mud。 Agaric was quite ready to see a general significance in this particular fact。 He inferred a great fermentation in the whole aristocratic and military caste； and concluded that it was the moment to act。
The next day he went to the end of the Wood of Conils to visit the good Father Cornemuse。 He found the monk in his laboratory pouring a golden…coloured liquor into a still。 He was a short； fat； little man； with vermilion…tinted cheeks and an elaborately polished bald head。 His eyes had ruby…coloured pupils like a guinea…pig's。 He graciously saluted his visitor and offered him a glass of the St。 Orberosian liqueur； which he manufactured； and from the sale of which he gained immense 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 m