The war against the Emerald Republic was voted with uplifted hands by a very large majority.

“What?” said Obnubile to the interpreter; “you have voted a war with that rapidity and that indifference!”

“Oh! it is an unimportant war which will hardly cost eight million dollars.”

“And men . . .”

“The men are included in the eight million dollars.”

Then Doctor Obnubile bent his head in bitter reflection.

“Since wealth and civilization admit of as many causes of wars as poverty and barbarism, since the folly and wickedness of men are incurable, there remains but one good action to be done.  The wise man will collect enough dynamite to blow up this planet.  When its fragments fly through space an imperceptible amelioration will be accomplished in the universe and a satisfaction will be given to the universal conscience.  Moreover, this universal conscience does not exist.”

BOOK V. MODERN TIMES:  CHATILLON

I. THE REVEREND FATHERS AGARIC AND CORNEMUSE

Every system of government produces people who are dissatisfied.  The Republic or Public Thing produced them at first from among the nobles who had been despoiled of their ancient privileges.  These looked with regret and hope to Prince Crucho, the last of the Draconides, a prince adorned both with the grace of youth and the melancholy of exile.  It also produced them from among the smaller traders, who, owing to profound economic causes, no longer gained a livelihood.  They believed that this was the fault of the republic which they had at first adored and from which each day they were now becoming more detached.  The financiers, both Christians and Jews, became by their insolence and their cupidity the scourge of the country, which they plundered and degraded, as well as the scandal of a government which they never troubled either to destroy or preserve, so confident were they that they could operate without hindrance under all governments.  Nevertheless, their sympathies inclined to absolute power as the best protection against the socialists, their puny but ardent adversaries.  And just as they imitated the habits of the aristocrats, so they imitated their political and religious sentiments.  Their women, in particular, loved the Prince and had dreams of appearing one day at his Court.

However, the Republic retained some partisans and defenders.  If it was not in a position to believe in the fidelity of its own officials it could at least still count on the devotion of the manual labourers, although it had never relieved their misery.  These came forth in crowds from their quarries and their factories to defend it, and marched in long processions, gloomy, emaciated, and sinister.  They would have died for it because it had given them hope.

Now, under the Presidency of Theodore Formose, there lived in a peaceable suburb of Alca a monk called Agaric, who kept a school and assisted in arranging marriages.  In his school he taught fencing and riding to the sons of old families, illustrious by their birth, but now as destitute of wealth as of privilege.  And as soon as they were old enough he married them to the daughters of the opulent and despised caste of financiers.