gance: therefore all became silent when he began to
discourse.

"I beg the floor," he repeated; he twice cleared his throat, bowed, and
with tuneful lips thus proceeded:--

"My predecessors in their eloquent speeches have touched on all the
principal and decisive points, and have raised the discussion to a higher
plane; it only remains for me to unite into one focus the pertinent
thoughts and considerations that have been put forward: I have the hope of
thus reconciling contrary opinions. I have noted that the entire
discussion consists of two parts; the division is already made, and that
division I follow. First: why should we undertake an insurrection? in what
spirit? That is the first vital question. The second concerns the
revolutionary authority. The division is a proper one, only I wish to
reverse it, and begin with the authority: when once we understand the
authority, from it I will deduce the nature, spirit, and aim of the
insurrection. As for the authority then--when I survey with my eyes the
history of all humanity, what do I perceive therein? Why, that the human
race, savage, and scattered in forests, gathers together, collects, unites
for common defence, and considers it; that is its first consultation. Then
each lays aside a part of his own liberty for the common good; that is the
first foundation, from which, as from a spring, flow all laws. We see then
that government is created by agreement, and does not proceed, as men
erroneously hold, from the will of God. Thus, since government rests upon
the social contract, the division of power is only its necessary
consequence."

"So there you are at contracts! Do you mean those of Kiev or of Minsk?"132
said old Maciej. "You must mean the Babin government!133 Pan Buchmann,
whether God or the devil chose to cast the Tsar upon us I will not dispute
with Your Honour; Pan Buchmann, tell us, please, how to cast off the
Tsar."

"There's the rub," shouted Sprinkler; "if I could only jump to the throne,
and with my brush--splash--once moisten the Tsar, then he wouldn't come
back, either through the Kiev tract or the Minsk tract, or by any one of
Buchmann's contracts; the Russian priests would not revive him either by
the power of God or by that of Beelzebub--the only brave way is to
sprinkle. Pan Buchmann, your speech was very eloquent, but eloquence is
nothing but noise; sprinkling is the principal thing."

"Good, good, good!" squealed Bartek the Razor, rubbing his