at least those now in the market. Authorize only the
sale of those that haven't these six millimeters."

All approved this idea of Simoun's, except the high official, who
muttered into Padre Fernandez's ear that this was not dignified,
nor was it the way to govern.

"The schoolmaster of Tiani," proceeded the secretary, shuffling some
papers about, "asks for a better location for--"

"What better location can he want than the storehouse that he has
all to himself?" interrupted Padre Camorra, who had returned, having
forgotten about the card-game.

"He says that it's roofless," replied the secretary, "and that having
purchased out of his own pocket some maps and pictures, he doesn't
want to expose them to the weather."

"But I haven't anything to do with that," muttered his Excellency. "He
should address the head secretary, [22] the governor of the province,
or the nuncio."

"I want to tell you," declared Padre Camorra, "that this little
schoolmaster is a discontented filibuster. Just imagine--the heretic
teaches that corpses rot just the same, whether buried with great pomp
or without any! Some day I'm going to punch him!" Here he doubled up
his fists.

"To tell the truth," observed Padre Sibyla, as if speaking only to
Padre Irene, "he who wishes to teach, teaches everywhere, in the open
air. Socrates taught in the public streets, Plato in the gardens of
the Academy, even Christ among the mountains and lakes."

"I've heard several complaints against this schoolmaster," said his
Excellency, exchanging a glance with Simoun. "I think the best thing
would be to suspend him."

"Suspended!" repeated the secretary.

The luck of that unfortunate, who had asked for help and received
his dismissal, pained the high official and he tried to do something
for him.

"It's certain," he insinuated rather timidly, "that education is not
at all well provided for--"

"I've already decreed large sums for the purchase of supplies,"
exclaimed his Excellency haughtily, as if to say, "I've done more
than I ought to have done."

"But since suitable locations are lacking, the supplies purchased
get ruined."

"Everything can't be done at once," said his Excellency dryly. "The
schoolmasters here are doing wrong in asking for buildings when those
in Spain starve to death. It's great presumption to be better off
here than in the mother country itself!"

"Filibusterism--"

"Before everything the fatherland! Before everything els