ident is on our side."

The attitude and sentiments of the President of the Republic are
explained by the fact that one Dracophil proposed to seize Formose
while another Dracophil regarded him as a friend. Formose showed himself
favourable to the Royalists, whose habits he admired and imitated. If
he smiled at the mention of the Dragon's crest it was at the thought
of putting it on his own head. He was envious of sovereign power, not
because he felt himself capable of exercising it, but because he loved
to appear so. According to the expression of a Penguin chronicler, "he
was a goose."

Prince des Boscenos maintained his proposal to march against Formose's
palace and the House of Parliament.

Count Clena was even still more energetic.

"Let us begin," said he, "by slaughtering, disembowelling, and braining
the Republicans and all partisans of the government. Afterwards we shall
see what more need be done."

M. de La Trumelle was a moderate, and moderates are always moderately
opposed to violence. He recognised that Count Clena's policy was
inspired by a noble feeling and that it was high-minded, but he timidly
objected that perhaps it was not conformable to principle, and that it
presented certain dangers. At last he consented to discuss it.

"I propose," added he, "to draw up an appeal to the people. Let us show
who we are. For my own part I can assure you that I shall not hide my
flag in my pocket."

M. Bigourd began to speak.

"Gentlemen, the Penguins are dissatisfied with the new order because it
exists, and it is natural for men to complain of their condition. But at
the same time the Penguins are afraid to change their government because
new things alarm them. They have not known the Dragon's crest and,
although they sometimes say that they regret it, we must not believe
them. It is easy to see that they speak in this way either without
thought or because they are in an ill-temper. Let us not have any
illusions about their feelings towards ourselves. They do not like us.
They hate the aristocracy both from a base envy and from a generous love
of equality. And these two united feelings are very strong in a people.
Public opinion is not against us, because it knows nothing about us. But
when it knows what we want it will not follow us. If we let it be seen
that we wish to destroy democratic government and restore the Dragon's
crest, who will be our partisans? Only the butcher-boys and the little
shopkeepe