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136 pertinacious mischief-makers, of cursed political agitators. Must we always submit without a murmur to the iron-hearted disturbers of our peace?'

'You are a thinking man, Ubertus,' said the Doctor gravely; 'but many people would call you a downright fool. You know nothing at all about tyranny or cruelty. Your Government is one of angels. What if you had a Council of Ten, as they had in Venice long ago; or a Star Chamber, as they had in England in the days of Charles the First; or fiery stakes, as in the days of Queen Mary?'

'If I were not a thinking man, sir,' I answered, 'I should despise myself, though I am not in the habit of despising those who do not think—I only pity them. It is likely that I am myself despised. My serious thoughts dwell far beyond our present state of existence. Eternal life is to me something real and awful. I believe that men and women are the germs of mighty beings, as tiny nuts and berries are those of the giants of the forest. The power of their Creator can make them grow great, and decree that they shall never die. Are they justified, then, in wasting their time in frivolous amusements, in hunting wildly after pleasure and excitement; in gambling, drinking, evil speaking, or breaking the heads of their neighbours? They think a great deal of themselves, of their drastic changes and wonderful improvements, which are to stop people's mouths from asking for anything more for ever and ever, so perfectly happy and contented they shall be. Every frothy agitator lays down the law to his audience, and to the world, as who shall say, "I am Sir Oracle, and when I ope my lips let no dog bark!" Men, intellectual men, who are on the brink of the grave, worship their worldly power, and will not surrender one particle of it even when it is likely to plunge a peaceful nation into all the horrors of civil war!'

'Go on, sir,' said my companion, laughing; 'your eloquence