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king for son…in…law； from several Jewish ladies； who were impatient to become ennobled； and； finally； from the Prince Regent of the Porpoises； who had promised his aid to the Draconides； thinking that by Crucho's restoration he would weaken the Penguins； the hereditary enemies of his people。 The three old councillors divided among themselves the three chief offices of the Court； those of Chamberlain； Seneschal； and High Steward； and authorised the monk to distribute the other places to the prince's best advantage。
〃Devotion has to be rewarded；〃 said the three old councillors。
〃And treachery also；〃 said Agaric。
〃It is but too true；〃 replied one of them； the Marquis of Sevenwounds； who had experience of revolutions。
There was dancing； and after the ball Princess Gudrune tore up her green robe to make cockades。 With her own hands she sewed a piece of it on the monk's breast； upon which he shed tears of sensibility and gratitude。
M。 de Plume； the prince's equerry； set out the same evening to look for a green horse。
III。 THE CABAL
After his return to the capital of Penguinia； the Reverend Father Agaric disclosed his projects to Prince Adelestan des Boscenos； of whose Draconian sentiments he was well aware。
The prince belonged to the highest nobility。 The Torticol des Boscenos went back to Brian the Good； and under the Draconides had held the highest offices in the kingdom。 In 1179； Philip Torticol； High Admiral of Penguinia； a brave； faithful； and generous； but vindictive man； delivered over the port of La Crique and the Penguin fleet to the enemies of the kingdom； because he suspected that Queen Crucha； whose lover he was； had been unfaithful to him and loved a stable…boy。 It was that great queen who gave to the Boscenos the silver warming…pan which they bear in their arms。 As for their motto； it only goes back to the sixteenth century。 The story of its origin is as follows： One gala night； as he mingled with the crowd of courtiers who were watching the fire…works in the king's garden； Duke John des Boscenos approached the Duchess of Skull and put his hand under the petticoat of that lady； who made no complaint at the gesture。 The king； happening to pass； surprised them and contented himself with saying； 〃And thus I find you。〃 These four words became the motto of the Boscenos。
Prince Adelestan had not degenerated from his ancestors。 He preserved an unalterable fidelity for the race of the Draconides and desired nothing so much as the restoration of Prince Crucho； an event which was in his eyes to be the fore…runner of the restoration of his own fortune。 He therefore readily entered into the Reverend Father Agaric's plans。 He joined himself at once to the monk's projects； and hastened to put him into communication with the most loyal Royalists of his acquaintance； Count Clena； M。 de La Trumelle； Viscount Olive； and M。 Bigourd。 They met together one night in the Duke of Ampoule's country house； six miles eastward of Alca； to consider ways and means。
M。 de La Trumelle was in favour of legal action。
〃We ought to keep within the law；〃 said he in substance。 〃We are for order。 It is by an untiring propaganda that we shall best pursue the realisation of our hopes。 We must change the feeling of the country。 Our cause will conquer because it is just。〃
The Prince des Boscenos expressed a contrary opinion。 He thought that； in order to triumph； just causes need force quite as much and even more than unjust causes require it。
〃In the present situation；〃 said he tranquilly； 〃three methods of action present themselves： to hire the butcher boys； to corrupt the ministers； and to kidnap President Formose。〃
〃It would be a mistake to kidnap Formose；〃 objected M。 de La Trumelle。 〃The President is on our side。〃
The attitude and sentiments of the President of the Republic are explained by the fact that one Dracophil proposed to seize Formose while another Dracophil regarded him as a friend。 Formose showed himself favourable to the Royalists； whose habits he admired and imitated。 If he smiled at the mention of the Dragon's crest it was at the thought of putting it on his own head。 He was envious of sovereign power； not because he felt himself capable of exercising it； but because he loved to appear so。 According to the expression of a Penguin chronicler； 〃he was a goose。〃
Prince des Boscenos maintained his proposal to march against Formose's palace and the House of Parliament。
Count Clena was even still more energetic。
〃Let us begin；〃 said he； 〃by slaughtering； disembowelling； and braining the Republicans and all partisans of the government。 Afterwards we shall see what more need be done。〃
M。 de La Trumelle was a moderate； and moderates are always moderately opposed to violence。 He recognised that Count Clena's policy was inspired by a noble feeling and that it was high…minded； but he timidly objected that perhaps it was not conformable to principle； and that it presented certain dangers。 At last he consented to discuss it。
〃I propose；〃 added he； 〃to draw up an appeal to the people。 Let us show who we are。 For my own part I can assure you that I shall not hide my flag in my pocket。〃
M。 Bigourd began to speak。
〃Gentlemen； the Penguins are dissatisfied with the new order because it exists； and it is natural for men to complain of their condition。 But at the same time the Penguins are afraid to change their government because new things alarm them。 They have not known the Dragon's crest and； although they sometimes say that they regret it； we must not believe them。 It is easy to see that they speak in this way either without thought or because they are in an ill…temper。 Let us not have any illusions about their feelings towards ourselves。 They do not like us。 They hate the aristocracy both from a base envy and from a generous love of equality。 And these two united feelings are very strong in a people。 Public opinion is not against us； because it knows nothing about us。 But when it knows what we want it will not follow us。 If we let it be seen that we wish to destroy democratic government and restore the Dragon's crest； who will be our partisans？ Only the butcher…boys and the little shopkeepers of Alca。 And could we even count on them to the end？ They are dissatisfied； but at the bottom of their hearts they are Republicans。 They are more anxious to sell their cursed wares than to see Crucho again。 If we act openly we shall only cause alarm。
〃To make people sympathise with us and follow us we must make them believe that we want； not to overthrow the Republic； but； on the contrary； to restore it； to cleanse； to purify； to embellish； to adorn； to beautify； and to ornament it； to render it； in a word； glorious and attractive。 Therefore； we ought not to act openly ourselves。 It is known that we are not favourable to the present order。 We must have recourse to a friend of the Republic； and； if we are to do what is best； to a defender of this government。 We have plenty to choose from。 It would be well to prefer the most popular and； if I dare say so； the most republican of them。 We shall win him over to us by flattery； by presents； and above all by promises。 Promises cost less than presents； and a