penguin island-第24节
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〃You can。 I have nothing secret from these two ladies。〃
〃Sire； Penguinia claims you。 You will not be deaf to her call。〃
Agaric described the state of feeling and outlined a vast plot。
〃On my first signal；〃 said he； 〃all your partisans will rise at once。 With cross in hand and habits girded up； your venerable clergy will lead the armed crowd into Formose's palace。 We shall carry terror and death among your enemies。 For a reward of our efforts we only ask of you； Sire； that you will not render them useless。 We entreat you to come and seat yourself on the throne that we shall prepare。〃
The prince returned a simple answer：
〃I shall enter Alca on a green horse。〃
Agaric declared that he accepted this manly response。 Although； contrary to his custom； he had a lady on his knee； he adjured the young prince； with a sublime loftiness of soul； to be faithful to his royal duties。
〃Sire；〃 he cried； with tears in his eyes； 〃you will live to remember the day on which you have been restored from exile； given back to your people； reestablished on the throne of your ancestors by the hands of your monks； and crowned by them with the august crest of the Dragon。 King Crucho； may you equal the glory of your ancestor Draco the Great！〃
The young prince threw himself with emotion on his restorer and attempted to embrace him； but he was prevented from reaching him by the girth of the two ladies； so tightly packed were they all in that historic carriage。
〃Worthy father；〃 said he； 〃I would like all Penguinia to witness this embrace。〃
〃It would be a cheering spectacle；〃 said Agaric。
In the mean time the motor…car rushed like a tornado through hamlets and villages； crushing hens； geese； turkeys； ducks； guinea…fowls； cats； dogs； pigs； children； labourers； and women beneath its insatiable tyres。 And the pious Agaric turned over his great designs in his mind。 His voice； coming from behind one of the ladies； expressed this thought：
〃We must have money； a great deal of money。〃
〃That is your business；〃 answered the prince。
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
