“What a sight, Cornemuse, does unhappy Penguinia present to us!  Everywhere disobedience, independence, liberty!  We seethe proud, the haughty, the men of revolt rising up.  After having braved the Divine laws they now rear themselves against human laws, so true is it that in order to be a good citizen a man must be a good Christian.  Colomban is trying to imitate Satan.  Numerous criminals are following his fatal example.  They want, in their rage, to put aside all checks, to throw off all yokes, to free themselves from the most sacred bonds, to escape from the most salutary restraints.  They strike their country to make it obey them.  But they will be overcome by the weight of public animadversion, vituperation, indignation, fury, execration, and abomination.  That is the abyss to which they have been led by atheism, free thought, and the monstrous claim to judge for themselves and to form their own opinions.”

“Doubtless, doubtless,” replied Father Cornemuse, shaking his head, “but I confess that the care of distilling these simples has prevented me from following public affairs.  I only know that people are talking a great deal about a man called Pyrot.  Some maintain that he is guilty, others affirm that he is innocent, but I do not clearly understand the motives that drive both parties to mix themselves up in a business that concerns neither of them.”

The pious Agaric asked eagerly: 

“You do not doubt Pyrot’s guilt?”

“I cannot doubt it, dear Agaric,” answered the monk of Conils.  “That would be contrary to the laws of my country which we ought to respect as long as they are not opposed to the Divine laws.  Pyrot is guilty, for he has been convicted.  As to saying more for or against his guilt, that would be to erect my own authority against that of the judges, a thing which I will take good care not to do.  Besides, it is useless, for Pyrot has been convicted.  If he has not been convicted because he is guilty, he is guilty because he has been convicted; it comes to the same thing.  I believe in his guilt as every good citizen ought to believe in it; and I will believe in it as long as the established jurisdiction will order me to believe in it, for it is not for a private person but for a judge to proclaim the innocence of a convicted person.  Human justice is venerable even in the errors inherent in its fallible and limited nature.  These errors are never irreparable; if the judges do not repair them on earth, God will repair them in Heaven.  Besides I have great confidence in general Greatauk, who, though he certainly does not look it, seems to me to be an abler man than all those who are attacking him.”

“Dearest Cornemuse,” cried the pious Agaric, “the Pyrot affair, if pushed to the point whither we can lead it by the help of God and the necessary funds, will produce the greatest benefits.  It will lay bare the vices of this Anti-Christian Republic and will incline the Penguins to restore the throne of the Draconides and the prerogatives of the Church.  But to do that it is necessary for the people to see the clergy in the front rank of its defenders.  Let us march against the enemies of the army, against those who insult our heroes, and everybody will follow us.”