shes to abolish
external commerce; Lafarelle to tax machinery; another to take off the
drink duties, to restore trade wardenships, or to distribute soups.

Proudhon conceives the idea of a uniform tariff, and claims for the
state the monopoly of sugar.

"These socialists," said Bouvard, "always call for tyranny."

"Oh, no!"

"Yes, indeed!"

"You are absurd!"

"Well, I am shocked at you!"

They sent for the works of which they had only summaries. Bouvard noted
a number of passages, and, pointing them out, said:

"Read for yourself. They offer as examples to us the Essenes, the
Moravian Brethren, the Jesuits of Paraguay, and even the government of
prisons."

"'Amongst the Icarians breakfast was over in twenty minutes; women were
delivered at the hospitals. As for books, it was forbidden to print them
without the authorisation of the Republic.'"

"But Cabet is an idiot."

"Here, now, we have from Saint-Simon: 'The publicists should submit
their works to a committee of manufacturers.'

"And from Pierre Leroux: 'The law will compel the citizens to listen to
an orator.'

"And from Auguste Comte: 'The priests will educate the youth, will
exercise supervision over literary works, and will reserve to themselves
the power of regulating procreation.'"

These quotations troubled Pecuchet. In the evening, at dinner, he
replied:

"I admit that there are absurdities in the works of the inventors of
Utopias; nevertheless they deserve our sympathy. The hideousness of the
world tormented them, and, in order to make it beautiful, they endured
everything. Recall to mind More decapitated, Campanella put seven times
to the torture, Buonarotti with a chain round his neck, Saint-Simon
dying of want; many others. They might have lived in peace; but no! they
marched on their way with their heads towards the sky, like heroes."

"Do you believe," said Bouvard, "that the world will change, thanks to
the theories of some particular gentleman?"

"What does it matter?" said Pecuchet; "it is time to cease stagnating in
selfishness. Let us look out for the best system."

"Then you expect to find it?"

"Certainly."

"You?"

And, in the fit of laughter with which Bouvard was seized, his shoulders
and stomach kept shaking in harmony. Redder than the jams before them,
with his napkin under his armpits, he kept repeating, "Ha! ha! ha!" in
an irritating fashion.

Pecuchet left the room, slamming the door after him.

Germaine w