versal panacea' has been a sure source of wealth. It
makes no difference what the panacea is, if you only have the b-b-brains
to fool the people. There are only two kinds of people in the world, my
son--the fools and f-f-foolers!"

Even whisky could not make David listen to this cold-blooded avowal
without a shudder.

The keen eye of the quack detected it; but instead of adulterating his
philosophy, he doubled his dose.

"Shocks you, does it? You will g-g-get over that. We are not angels! we
are only men. Remember what old Jack Falstaff said? 'If Adam fell in a
state, of innocency, what shall I d-d-do in a state of villainy?'"

The boldness of the man and the radicalness of his philosophy dazzled
and fascinated the inexperienced youth.

This was what the astute and unscrupulous instructor expected, and he
determined to pursue his advantage and effect, if possible, the complete
corruption of his pupil in a single lesson; and so he continued:

"Got to live, my son! Self-p-p-preservation is the first law, and so we
must imitate the rest of the b-b-brute creation, and live off of each
other! The big ones must feed upon the little and the strong upon the
weak. 'Every man for himself and the d-d-devil take the hindmost!'
That's my religion."

"You may be right," said David, "but I cannot say that I take to it
kindly. I do not see how a man can practice this cruelty and injustice
without suffering."

"Suffering! Idea of suffering is greatly exaggerated. Ever watch a
t-t-toad that was being swallowed by a snake? Looks as if he positively
enjoyed it. It's his mission. Born to be eaten! If there was as much
pain in the world as p-p-people say, do you think anybody could endure
it! Isn't the d-d-door always open? Can't a man quit when he wants to?
Suffering! Pshaw! Do I look as if I suffered? Does Pepeeta look as if
she suffered? And yet she b-b-bamboozles them worse than I do."

The head of the gypsy bent lower and lower over her crocheting.

"She plays upon them like a fife! They d-d-dance when she whistles! Next
to wanting a universal panacea for pain, the idiots want a knowledge of
the future! Everybody but me wants to know what kind of a to-morrow God
Almighty has made for him. I make my own to-morrows! I don't ask to
have my destiny made up for me like a t-t-tailor coat. I make my own
destiny. If things d-d-don't come my way, I just pull them! People talk
about 'following Providence!' I follow Providence as an Iri