penguin island-第25节
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d 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 finest in the world； and also the Japanese。 And it should be noticed that even after suffering the most terrible reverses an army does not fall from its position of being the finest in the world。 For if nations ascribe their victories to the ability of their generals and the courage of their soldiers； they always attribute their defeats to an inexplicable fatality。 On the other hand； navies are classed according to the number of their ships。 There is a first； a second； a third； and so on。 So that there exists no doubt as to the result of naval wars。
The Penguins had the finest army and the second navy in the world。 This navy was commanded by the famous Chatillon； who bore the title of Emiralbahr； and by abbreviation Emiral。 It is the same word which； unfortunately in a corrupt form； is used to…day among several European nations to designate the highest grade in the naval service。 But as there was but one Emiral among the Penguins； a singular prestige； if I dare say so； was attached to that rank。
The Emiral did not belong to the nobility。 A child of the people； he was loved by the people。 They were flattered to see a man who sprang from their own ranks holding a position of honour。 Chatillon was good…looking and fortune favoured him。 He was not over…addicted to thought。 No event ever disturbed his serene outlook。
The Reverend Father Agaric； surrendering to M。 Bigourd's reasons and recognising that the existing government could only be destroyed by one of its defenders； cast his eyes upon Emiral Chatillon。 He asked a large sum of money from his friend； the Reverend Father Cornemuse； which the latter handed him with a sigh。 And with this sum he hired six hundred butcher boys of Alca to run behind Chatillon's horse and shout； 〃Hurrah for the Emiral！〃 Henceforth Chatillon could not take a single step without being cheered。
Viscountess Olive asked him for a private interview。 He received her at the Admiralty* in a room decorated with anchors； shells； and grenades。
* Or better； Emiralty。
She was discreetly dressed in greyish blue。 A hat trimmed with roses covered her pretty； fair hair； Behind her veil her eyes shone like sapphires。 Although she came of Jewish origin there was no more fashionable woman in the whole nobility。 She was tall and well shaped； her form was that of the year； her figure that of the season。
〃Emiral；〃 said she； in a delightful voice； 〃I cannot conceal my emotion from you。 。 。 。 It is very natural 。 。 。 before a hero。〃
〃You are too kind。 But tell me； Viscountess； what brings me the honour of your visit。〃
〃For a long time I have been anxious to see you； to speak to you。 。 。 。 So I very willingly undertook to convey a message to you。〃
〃Please take a seat。〃
〃How still it is here。〃
〃Yes； it is quiet enough。〃
〃You can hear the birds singing。〃
〃Sit down； then； dear lady。〃
And he drew up an arm…chair for her。
She took a seat with her back to the light。
〃Emiral； I came to bring you a very important message； a message。 。 。〃
〃Explain。〃
〃Emiral； have you ever seen Prince Crucho？〃
〃Never。〃
She sighed。
〃It is a great pity。 He would be so delighted to see you！ He esteems and appreciates you。 He has your portrait on his desk beside his mother's。 What a pity it is he is not better known！ He is a charming prince and so grateful for what is done for him！ He will be a great king。 For he will be king without doubt。 He will come back and sooner than people think。 。 。 。 What I have to tell you； the message with which I am entrusted； refers precisely to。 。 。〃
The Emiral stood up。
〃Not a word more； dear lady。 I have the esteem； the confidence of the Republic。 I will not betray it。 And why should I betray it？ I am loaded honours and dignities。〃
〃Allow me to tell you； my dear Emiral； that your honours and dignities are far from equalling what you deserve。 If your services were properly rewarded； you would be Emiralissimo and Generalissimo； Commander…in…chief of the troops both on land and sea。 The Republic is very ungrateful to you。〃
〃All governments are more or less ungrateful。〃
〃Yes； but the Republicans are jealous of you。 That class of person is always afraid of his superiors。 They cannot endure the Services。 Everything that has to do with the navy and the army is odious to them。 They are afraid of you。〃
〃That is possible。〃
〃They are wretches； they are ruining the country。 Don't you wish to save Penguinia？
〃In what way？〃
〃By sweeping away all the rascals of the Republic； all the Republicans。〃
〃What a proposal to make to me； dear lady！〃
〃It is what will certainly be done； if not by you； then by some one else。 The Generalissimo； to mention him alone； is ready to throw all the ministers； deputies； and senators into the sea； and to recall Prince Crucho。〃
〃Oh； the rascal； the scoundrel；〃 exclaimed the Emiral。
〃Do to him what he would do to you。 The prince will know how to recognise your services； He will give you the Constable's sword and a magnificent grant。 I am commissioned； in the mean time； to hand you a pledge of his royal friendship。〃
As she said these words she drew a green cockade from
