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.