.

"The St. Orberosian liqueur," continued Cornemuse, "is making fresh
conquests. But none the less my industry remains uncertain and
precarious. The laws of ruin and desolation that struck it have not been
abrogated, they have only been suspended."

And the monk of Conils lifted his ruby eyes to heaven.

Agaric put his hand on his shoulder.

"What a sight, Cornemuse, does unhappy Penguinia present to us!
Everywhere disobedience, independence, liberty! We seethe proud, the
haughty, the men of revolt rising up. After having braved the Divine
laws they now rear themselves against human laws, so true is it that in
order to be a good citizen a man must be a good Christian. Colomban
is trying to imitate Satan. Numerous criminals are following his fatal
example. They want, in their rage, to put aside all checks, to throw off
all yokes, to free themselves from the most sacred bonds, to escape from
the most salutary restraints. They strike their country to make it obey
them. But they will be overcome by the weight of public animadversion,
vituperation, indignation, fury, execration, and abomination. That is
the abyss to which they have been led by atheism, free thought, and the
monstrous claim to judge for themselves and to form their own opinions."

"Doubtless, doubtless," replied Father Cornemuse, shaking his head, "but
I confess that the care of distilling these simples has prevented me
from following public affairs. I only know that people are talking a
great deal about a man called Pyrot. Some maintain that he is guilty,
others affirm that he is innocent, but I do not clearly understand the
motives that drive both parties to mix themselves up in a business that
concerns neither of them."

The pious Agaric asked eagerly:

"You do not doubt Pyrot's guilt?"

"I cannot doubt it, dear Agaric," answered the monk of Conils. "That
would be contrary to the laws of my country which we ought to respect as
long as they are not opposed to the Divine laws. Pyrot is guilty, for
he has been convicted. As to saying more for or against his guilt, that
would be to erect my own authority against that of the judges, a thing
which I will take good care not to do. Besides, it is useless, for Pyrot
has been convicted. If he has not been convicted because he is guilty,
he is guilty because he has been convicted; it comes to the same thing.
I believe in his guilt as every good citizen ought to believe in it; and
I will believe in it as lon