penguin island-第39章
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cule。
〃Leave is to smother itself and let us gaze at its last convulsions with joyful contempt； only regretting that it has so entirely corrupted the soil on which it has been built that we shall find nothing but poisoned mud on which to lay the foundations of a new society。〃
When Sapor had ended his speech comrade Lapersonne pronounced these few words：
〃Phoenix calls us to Pyrot's help for the reason that Pyrot is innocent。 It seems to me that that is a very bad reason。 If Pyrot is innocent he has behaved like a good soldier and has always conscientiously worked at his trade； which principally consists in shooting the people。 That is not a motive to make the people brave all dangers in his defence。 When it is demonstrated to me that Pyrot is guilty and that he stole the army hay； I shall be on his side。〃
Comrade Larrivee afterwards spoke。
〃I am not of my friend； Phoenix's opinion but I am not with my friend Sapor either。 I do not believe that the party is bound to embrace a cause as soon as we are told that that cause is just。 That； I am afraid； is a grievous abuse of words and a dangerous equivocation。 For social justice is not revolutionary justice。 They are both in perpetual antagonism： to serve the one is to oppose the other。 As for me； my choice is made。 I am for revolutionary justice as against social justice。 Still； in the present case I am against abstention。 I say that when a lucky chance brings us an affair like this we should be fools not to profit by it。
〃How？ We are given an opportunity of striking terrible； perhaps fatal； blows against militarism。 And am I to fold my arms？ I tell you； comrades； I am not a fakir； I have never been a fakir； and if there are fakirs here let them not count on me。 To sit in meditation is a policy without results and one which I shall never adopt。
〃A party like ours ought to be continually asserting itself。 It ought to prove its existence by continual action。 We will intervene in the Pyrot affair but we will intervene in it in a revolutionary manner； we will adopt violent action。 。 。 。 Perhaps you think that violence is old…fashioned and superannuated； to be scrapped along with diligences； hand…presses and aerial telegraphy。 You are mistaken。 To…day as yesterday nothing is obtained except by violence； it is the one efficient instrument。 The only thing necessary is to know how to use it。 You ask what will our action be？ I will tell you： it will be to stir up the governing classes against one another； to put the army in conflict with the capitalists； the government with the magistracy； the nobility and clergy with the Jews； and if possible to drive them all to destroy one another。 To do this would be to carry on an agitation which would weaken government in the same way that fever wears out the sick。
〃The Pyrot affair； little as we know how to turn it to advantage； will put forward by ten years the growth of the Social party and the emancipation of the proletariat； by disarmament； the general strike； and revolution。〃
The leaders of the party having each expressed a different opinion； the discussion was continued； not without vivacity。 The orators； as always happens in such a case； reproduced the arguments they had already brought forward； though with less order and moderation than before。 The dispute was prolonged and none changed his opinion。 These opinions； in the final analysis； were reduced to two： that of Sapor and Lapersonne who advised abstention； and that of Phoenix and Larrivee； who wanted intervention。 Even these two contrary opinions were united in a common hatred of the heads of the army and of their justice； and in a common belief in Pyrot's innocence。 So that public opinion was hardly mistaken in regarding all the Socialist leaders as pernicious Anti…Pyrotists。
As for the vast masses in whose name they spoke and whom they represented as far as speech can express the impossibleas for the proletarians whose thought is difficult to know and who do not know it themselves； it seemed that the Pyrot affair did not interest them。 It was too literary for them； it was in too classical a style； and had an upper…middle…class and high…finance tone about it that did not please them much。
VIII。 THE COLOMBAN TRIAL
When the Colomban trial began； the Pyrotists were not many more than thirty thousand； but they were every where and might be found even among the priests and millionaires。 What injured them most was the sympathy of the rich Jews。 On the other hand they derived valuable advantages from their feeble number。 In the first place there were among them fewer fools than among their opponents； who were over…burdened with them。 Comprising but a feeble minority； they co…operated easily； acted with harmony； and had no temptation to divide and thus counteract one another's efforts。 Each of them felt the necessity of doing the best possible and was the more careful of his conduct as he found himself more in the public eye。 Finally； they had every reason to hope that they would gain fresh adherents； while their opponents； having had everybody with them at the beginning； could only decrease。
Summoned before the judges at a public sitting； Colomban immediately perceived that his judges were not anxious to discover the truth。 As soon as he opened his mouth the President ordered him to be silent in the superior interests of the State。 For the same reason； which is the supreme reason； the witnesses for the defence were not heard。 General Panther； the Chief of the Staff； appeared in the witness…box； in full uniform and decorated with all his orders。 He deposed as follows：
〃The infamous Colomban states that we have no proofs against Pyrot。 He lies； we have them。 I have in my archives seven hundred and thirty…two square yards of them which at five hundred pounds each make three hundred and sixty…six thousand pounds。〃
That superior officer afterwards gave； with elegance and ease； a summary of those proofs。
〃They are of all colours and all shades；〃 said he in substance； 〃they are of every formpot； crown； sovereign； grape； dove…cot； grand eagle； etc。 The smallest is less than the hundredth part of a square inch； the largest measures seventy yards long by ninety yards broad。〃
At this revelation the audience shuddered with horror。
Greatauk came to give evidence in his turn。 Simpler； and perhaps greater； he wore a grey tunic and held his hands joined behind his back。
〃I leave；〃 said he calmly and in a slightly raised voice； 〃I leave to M。 Colomban the responsibility for an act that has brought our country to the brink of ruin。 The Pyrot affair is secret； it ought to remain secret。 If it were divulged the cruelest ills； wars； pillages； depredations； fires； massacres； and epidemics would immediately burst upon Penguinia。 I should consider myself guilty of high treason if I uttered another word。〃
Some persons known for their political experience； among others M。 Bigourd； considered the evidence of the Minister of War as abler and of greater weight than that of his Chief of Staff。
The evidence of Colonel de Boisjoli made a great impression。
〃One evening at the Ministry of War；〃 said that officer； 〃the attache of a neighbouring Power told me that while visiting his sovereign's stables he had once admired some soft and fragrant hay； of a pretty green colour； the finest hay he had ever seen！ 'Where did it come from？' I asked him。 He did not answer； but there seemed to me no doubt about its origin。 It was the hay Pyrot had stolen。 Those qualities of verdure； softness； and aroma； are those of our national hay。 The forage of the neighbouring Power is grey and brittle； it sounds under the fork and smells of dust。 One can draw one own conclusions。〃
Lieutenant…Colonel Hastaing said in the witness…box； amid hisses； that he did not believe Pyrot guilty。 He was immediately seized by the police and thrown into the bottom of a dungeon where； amid vipers； toads； and broken glass； he remained insensible both to promises and threats。
The usher called：
〃Count Pierre Maubec de la Dentdulynx。〃
There was deep silence； and a stately but ill…dressed nobleman； whose moustaches pointed to the skies and whose dark eyes shot forth flashing glances； was seen advanci
