n spike, to which he remained hooked,
still clasping the standard of the Draconides.

On the following day the Ministers of the Republic and the Members of
Parliament determined to take energetic measures. In vain, this time,
did President Formose attempt to evade his responsibilities. The
government discussed the question of depriving Chatillon of his rank and
dignities and of indicting him before the High Court as a conspirator,
an enemy of the public good, a traitor, etc.

At this news the Emiral's old companions in arms, who the very evening
before had beset him with their adulations, made no effort to conceal
their joy. But Chatillon remained popular with the middle classes of
Alca and one still heard the hymn of the liberator sounding in the
streets, "It is Chatillon we want."

The Ministers were embarrassed. They intended to indict Chatillon before
the High Court. But they knew nothing; they remained in that total
ignorance reserved for those who govern men. They were incapable of
advancing any grave charges against Chatillon. They could supply
the prosecution with nothing but the ridiculous lies of their spies.
Chatillon's share in the plot and his relations with Prince Crucho
remained the secret of the thirty thousand Dracophils. The Ministers
and the Deputies had suspicions and even certainties, but they had no
proofs. The Public Prosecutor said to the Minister of justice: "Very
little is needed for a political prosecution! but I have nothing at all
and that is not enough." The affair made no progress. The enemies of the
Republic were triumphant.

On the eighteenth of September the news ran in Alca that Chatillon had
taken flight. Everywhere there was surprise and astonishment. People
doubted, for they could not understand.

This is what had happened: One day as the brave Under-Emiral Vulcanmould
happened, as if by chance, to go into the office of M. Barbotan, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, he remarked with his usual frankness:

"M. Barbotan, your colleagues do not seem to me to be up to much; it is
evident that they have never commanded a ship. That fool Chatillon gives
them a deuced bad fit of the shivers."

The Minister, in sign of denial, waved his paper-knife in the air above
his desk.

"Don't deny it," answered Vulcanmould. "You don't know how to get rid of
Chatillon. You do not dare to indict him before the High Court because
you are not sure of being able to bring forward a strong enough cha