penguin island-第20章

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But　already　the　park　gates　were　opening　to　the　formidable　motor…car。

The　dinner　was　sumptuous。　They　toasted　the　Dragon's　crest。　Everybody　knows　that　a　closed　goblet　is　a　sign　of　sovereignty；　so　Prince　Crucho　and　Princess　Gudrune；　his　wife；　drank　out　of　goblets　that　were　covered…over　like　ciboriums。　The　prince　had　his　filled　several　times　with　the　wines　of　Penguinia；　both　white　and　red。

Crucho　had　received　a　truly　princely　education；　and　he　excelled　in　motoring；　but　was　not　ignorant　of　history　either。　He　was　said　to　be　well　versed　in　the　antiquities　and　famous　deeds　of　his　family；　and；　indeed；　he　gave　a　notable　proof　of　his　knowledge　in　this　respect。　As　they　were　speaking　of　the　various　remarkable　peculiarities　that　had　been　noticed　in　famous　women；

〃It　is　perfectly　true；〃　said　he；　〃that　Queen　Crucha；　whose　name　I　bear；　had　the　mark　of　a　little　monkey's　head　upon　her　body。〃

During　the　evening　Agaric　had　a　decisive　interview　with　three　of　the　prince's　oldest　councillors。　It　was　decided　to　ask　for　funds　from　Crucho's　father…in…law；　as　he　was　anxious　to　have　a　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　are　worth　more。　No　one　gives　as　much　as　he　who　gives　hopes。　It　is　not　necessary　for　the　man　we　choose　to　be　of　brilliant　intellect。　I　would　even　prefer　him　to　be　of　no　great　ability。　Stupid　people　show　an　inimitable　grace　in　roguery。　Be　guided　by　me；　gentlemen；　and　overthrow　the　Republic　by　the　agency　of　a　Republican。　Let　us　be　prudent。　But　prudence　does　not　exclude　energy。　If　you　need　me　you　will　find　me　at　your　disposal。〃

This　speech　made　a　great　impression　upon　those　who　heard　it。　The　mind　of　the　pious　Agaric　was　particularly　impressed。　But　each　of　them　was　anxious　to　appoint　himself　to　a　position　of　honour　and　profit。　A　secret　government　was　organised　of　which　all　those　present　were　elected　active　members。　The　Duke　of　Ampoule；　who　was　the　great　financier　of　the　party；　was　chosen　treasurer　and　charged　with　organising　funds　for　the　propaganda。

The　meeting　was　on　the　point　of　coming　to　an　end　when　a　rough　voice　was　heard　singing　an　old　air：

　　　　Boscenos　est　un　gros　cochon；　　　　　On　en　va　faire　des　andouilles　　　　　Des　saucisses　et　du　jambon　　　　　Pour　le　reveillon　des　pauv'　bougres。

It　had；　for　two　hundred　years；　been　a　well…known　song　in　the　slums　of　Alca。　Prince　Boscenos　did　not　like　to　hear　it。　He　went　down　into　the　street；　and；　perceiving　that　the　singer　was　a　workman　who　was　placing　some　slates　on　the　roof　of　a　church；　he　politely　asked　him　to　sing　something　else。

〃I　will　sing　what　I　like；〃　answered　the　man。

〃My　friend；　to　please　me。　。　。　。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　please　you。〃

Prince　Boscenos　was　as　a　rule　good…tempered；　but　he　was　easily　angered　and　a　man　of　great　strength。

〃Fellow；　come　down　or　I　will　go　up　to　you；〃　cried　he；　in　a　terrible　voice。

As　the　workman；　astride　on　his　coping；　showed　no　sign　of　budging；　the　prince　climbed　quickly　up　the　staircase　of　the　tower　and　attacked　the　singer。　He　gave　him　a　blow　that　broke　his　jaw…bone　and　sent　him　rolling　into　a　water…spout。　At　that　moment　seven　or　eight　carpenters；　who　were　working　on　the　rafters；　heard　their　companion's　cry　and　looked　through　the　window。　Seeing　the　prince　on　the　coping　they　climbed　along　a　ladder　that　was　leaning　on　the　slates　and　reached　him　just　as　he　was　slipping　into　the　tower。　They　sent　him；　head　foremost；　down　the　one　hundred　and　thirty…seven　steps　of　the　spiral　staircase。



IV。　VISCOUNTESS　OLIVE

The　Penguins　had　the　finest　army　in　the　world。　So　had　the　Porpoises。　And　it　was　the　same　with　the　other　nations　of　Europe。　The　smallest　amount　of　thought　will　prevent　any　surprise　at　this。　For　all　armies　are　the　finest　in　the　world。　The　second　finest　army；　if　one　could　exist；　would　be　in　a　notoriously　inferior　position；　it　would　be　certain　to　be　beaten。　It　ought　to　be　disbanded　at　once。　Therefore；　all　armies　are　the　finest　in　the　world。　In　France　the　illustrious　Colonel　Marchand　understood　this　when；　before　the　passage　of　the　Yalou；　being　questioned　by　some　journalists　about　the　Russo…Japanese　war；　he　did　not　hesitate　to　describe　the　Russian　army　as　the　fines