THE ENVOY.  But what about our Reformation?  Dont give the show away,
Poppa.  We followed suit, didnt we?

THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN.  Unfortunately, Ambrose, we could not follow suit very rapidly.  We had not only a religion to deal with, but a Church.

ZOZIM.  What is a Church?

THE ENVOY.  Not know what a Church is!  Well!

THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN.  You must excuse me; but if I attempted to explain you would only ask me what a bishop is; and that is a question that no mortal man can answer.  All I can tell you is that Mahomet was a truly wise man; for he founded a religion without a Church; consequently when the time came for a Reformation of the mosques there were no bishops and priests to obstruct it.  Our bishops and priests prevented us for two hundred years from following suit; and we have never recovered the start we lost then.  I can only plead that we did reform our Church at last.  No doubt we had to make a few compromises as a matter of good taste; but there is now very little in our Articles of Religion that is not accepted as at least allegorically true by our Higher Criticism.

THE ENVOY [encouragingly] Besides, does it matter?  Why, I have never read the Articles in my life; and I am Prime Minister!  Come! if my services in arranging for the reception of a colonizing party would be acceptable, they are at your disposal.  And when I say a reception I mean a reception.  Royal honors, mind you!  A salute of a hundred and one guns!  The streets lined with troops!  The Guards turned out at the Palace!  Dinner at the Guildhall!

ZOZIM.  Discourage me if I know what youre talking about!  I wish Zoo would come:  she understands these things.  All I can tell you is that the general opinion among the Colonizers is in favor of beginning in a country where the people are of a different color from us; so that we can make short work without any risk of mistakes.

THE ENVOY.  What do you mean by short work?  I hope—­

ZOZIM [with obviously feigned geniality] Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing.  We are thinking of trying North America:  thats all.  You see, the Red Men of that country used to be white.  They passed through a period of sallow complexions, followed by a period of no complexions at all, into the red characteristic of their climate.  Besides, several cases of long life have occurred in North America.  They joined us here; and their stock soon reverted to the original white of these islands.

THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN.  But have you considered the possibility of your colony turning red?

ZOZIM.  That wont matter.  We are not particular about our pigmentation.  The old books mention red-faced Englishmen:  they appear to have been common objects at one time.