While they were busy with him, others of the frantic folk had built great platforms of wood, whereon they all stood and spoke at once, both men and women.  And of these some wore red crosses on their garments, which meaneth ‘Salvation;’ and others wore white crosses, with a little black button of crape, to signify ‘Purity;’ and others bits of blue to mean ‘Abstinence.’  While some of these pursued Panurge others did beset Pantagruel; asking him very long questions, whereunto he gave but short answers.  Thus they asked: 

Have ye Local Option here?—­Pan.:  What?

May one man drink if his neighbour be not athirst?—­ Pan.:  Yea!

Have ye Free Education? —­ Pan.:  What?

Must they that have, pay to school them that have not?—­ Pan.:  Nay

Have ye free land?—­Pan.:  What?

Have ye taken the land from the farmer, and given it to the tailor out of work and the candlemaker masterless? —­Pan.:  Nay!

Have your women folk votes?—­Pan.:  Bosh!

Have ye got religion?—­ Pan.:  How?

Do you go about the streets at night, brawling, blowing a trumpet before you, and making long prayers?—­ Pan.:  Nay

Have you manhood suffrage? —­ Pan.:  Eh?

Is Jack as good as his master?  Pan.:  Nay!

Have you joined the Arbitration Society? —­ Pan.:  Quoy??

Will you let another kick you, and will you ask his neighbour if you deserve the same?—­ Pan.:  Nay?

Do you cat what you list?—­ Pan.:  Ay!

Do you drink when you are athirst?  Pan.:  Ay!

Are you governed by the free expression of the popular will?—­ Pan.:  How?

Are you servants of priests, pulpits, and penny papers?—­Pan.:  No!

Now, when they heard these answers of Pantagruel they all fell, some a weeping, some a praying, some a swearing, some an arbitrating, some a lecturing, some a caucussing, some a preaching, some a faith-healing, some a miracle-working, some a hypnotising, some a writing to the daily press; and while they were thus busy, like folk distraught, ‘reforming the island,’ Pantagruel burst out a laughing; whereat they were greatly dismayed; for laughter killeth the whole race of Coqcigrues, and they may not endure it.

Then Pantagruel and his company stole aboard a barque that Panurge had ready in the harbour.  And having provisioned her well with store of meat and good drink, they set sail for the kingdom of Entelechy, where, having landed, they were kindly entreated; and there abide to this day; drinking of the sweet and eating of the fat, under the protection of that intellectual sphere which hath in all places its centre and nowhere its circumference.

Such was their destiny; there was their end appointed, and thither the Coqcigrues can never come.  For all the air of that land is full of laughter, which killeth Coqcigrues; and there aboundeth the herb Pantagruelion.  But for thee, Master Francoys, thou art not well liked in this island of ours, where the Coqcigrues are abundant, very fierce, cruel, and tyrannical.  Yet thou hast thy friends, that meet and drink to thee and wish thee well wheresoever thou hast found thy grand peut-e’tre.