Page:Karel Čapek - The Absolute at Large (1927).djvu/176

 Him. We Frenchmen are in favour of the latter course!"

"That's because He's showing himself such an anti-militarist in your country," said Prince Trivelino with a certain malicious pleasure.

"No, gentlemen," cried Dudieu, "don't deceive yourselves on that point. The French army is quite unaffected. Such an anti-militarist! Bah! We already had any number of anti-militarist! Beware of Him, gentlemen. He is a demagogue, a communist, a bigot, Heaven knows what not, but always a radical. Oui, un rabouliste, c'est ca. He sticks to the wildest popular catch-words. He goes with the mob. Now in your Highness's country"—he turned suddenly to Prince Trivelino—"He is a nationalist, intoxicating Himself with dreams of a great Roman Empire. But take care, your Highness: that's what He does in the cities, but in the country districts He hobnobs with the parsons and performs miracles at the shrines of the Virgin. He works for the Vatican with one hand and for the Quirinal with the other. Either there is some design in it or I don't know what. Gentlemen, we can quite frankly admit it: He is making things difficult for us all."

"In my country," said Horatio Bumm thoughtfully, leaning on his cue, "He goes in for sport as well. He's a real big sportsman. He goes in for all