penguin island-第53章
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n letters of fire upon the boulevards。
Nobody regarded the Prime Minister as responsible for the scandal of his relatives； but a bad idea of his family came into existence； and the influence of the statesman was diminished。
Almost immediately he was made to feel this in a pretty sharp fashion。 One day in the House； on a simple question； Labillette； the Minister of Religion and Public Worship； who was suffering from an attack of liver； and beginning to be exasperated by the intentions and intrigues of the clergy； threatened to close the Chapel of St。 Orberosia； and spoke without respect of the National Virgin。 The entire Right rose up in indignation； the Left appeared to give but a half…hearted support to the rash Minister。 The leaders of the majority did not care to attack a popular cult which brought thirty millions a year into the country。 The most moderate of the supporters of the Right； M。 Bigourd； made the question the subject of a resolution and endangered the Cabinet。 Luckily； Fortune Lapersonne； the Minister of Public Works； always conscious of the obligations of power； was able in the Prime Minister's absence to repair the awkwardness and indecorum of his colleague； the Minister of Public Worship。 He ascended the tribune and bore witness to the respect in which the Government held the heavenly Patron of the country； the consoler of so many ills which science admitted its powerlessness to relieve。
When Paul Visire； snatched at last from Eveline's arms； appeared in the House； the administration was saved； but the Prime Minister saw himself compelled to grant important concessions to the upper classes。 He proposed in Parliament that six armoured cruisers should be laid down； and thus won the sympathies of the Steel Trust； he gave new assurances that the income tax would not be imposed； and he had eighteen Socialists arrested。
He was soon to find himself opposed by more formidable obstacles。 The Chancellor of the neighbouring Empire in an ingenious and profound speech upon the foreign relations of his sovereign； made a sly allusion to the intrigues that inspired the policy of a great country。 This reference； which was receive with smiles by the Imperial Parliament； was certain to irritate a punctilious republic。 It aroused the national susceptibility； which directed its wrath against its amorous Minister。 The Deputies seized upon a frivolous pretext to show their dissatisfaction。 A ridiculous incident； the fact that the wife of a subprefect had danced at the Moulin Rouge； forced the minister to face a vote of censure； and he was within a few votes of being defeated。 According to general opinion； Paul Visire had never been so weak； so vacillating； or so spiritless； as on that occasion。
He understood that he could only keep himself in office by a great political stroke； and he decided on the expedition to Nigritia。 This measure was demanded by the great financial and industrial corporations and was one which would bring concessions of immense forests to the capitalists； a loan of eight millions to the banking companies； as well as promotions and decorations to the naval and military officers。 A pretext presented itself； some insult needed to be avenged； or some debt to be collected。 Six battleships； fourteen cruisers； and eighteen transports sailed up the mouth of the river Hippopotamus。 Six hundred canoes vainly opposed the landing of the troops。 Admiral Vivier des Murenes' cannons produced an appalling effect upon the blacks； who replied to them with flights of arrows； but in spite of their fanatical courage they were entirely defeated。 Popular enthusiasm was kindled by the newspapers which the financiers subsidised； and burst into a blaze。 Some Socialists alone protested against this barbarous； doubtful； and dangerous enterprise。 They were at once arrested。
At that moment when the Minister； supported by wealth； and now beloved by the poor； seemed unconquerable； the light of hate showed Hippolyte Ceres alone the danger； and looking with a gloomy joy at his rival； he muttered between his teeth； 〃He is wrecked； the brigand！〃
Whilst the country intoxicated itself with glory； the neighbouring Empire protested against the occupation of Nigritia by a European power； and these protests following one another at shorter and shorter intervals became more and more vehement。 The newspapers of the interested Republic concealed all causes for uneasiness； but Hippolyte Ceres heard the growing menace； and determined at last to risk everything； even the fate of the ministry； in order to ruin his enemy。 He got men whom he could trust to write and insert articles in several of the official journals； which； seeming to express Paul Visire's precise views； attributed warlike intentions to the Head of the Government。
These articles roused a terrible echo abroad； and they alarmed the public opinion of a nation which； while fond of soldiers； was not fond of war。 Questioned in the House on the foreign policy of his government； Paul Visire made a re…assuring statement； and promised to maintain a face compatible with the dignity of a great nation。 His Minister of Foreign Affairs； Crombile； read a declaration which was absolutely unintelligible； for the reason that it was couched in diplomatic language。 The Minister obtained a large majority。
But the rumours of war did not cease； and in order to avoid a new and dangerous motion； the Prime Minister distributed eighty thousand acres of forests in Nigritia among the Deputies； and had fourteen Socialists arrested。 Hippolyte Ceres went gloomily about the lobbies； confiding to the Deputies of his group that he was endeavouring to induce the Cabinet to adopt a pacific policy； and that he still hoped to succeed。 Day by day the sinister rumours grew in volume； and penetrating amongst the public； spread uneasiness and disquiet。 Paul Visire himself began to take alarm。 What disturbed him most were the silence and absence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs。 Crombile no longer came to the meetings of the Cabinet。 Rising at five o'clock in the morning； he worked eighteen hours at his desk； and at last fell exhausted into his waste…paper basket； from whence the registrars removed him； together with the papers which they were going to sell to the military attaches of the neighbouring Empire。
General Debonnaire believed that a campaign was imminent； and prepared for it。 Far from fearing war； he prayed for it； and confided his generous hopes to Baroness Bildermann； who informed the neighbouring nation； which； acting on her information； proceeded to a rapid mobilization。
The Minister of Finance unintentionally precipitated events。 At the moment； he was speculating for a fall； and in order to bring about a panic on the Stock Exchange； he spread the rumour that war was now inevitable。 The neighbouring Empire； deceived by this action； and expecting to see its territory invaded； mobilized its troops in all haste。 The terrified Chamber overthrew the Visire ministry by an enormous majority （814 votes to 7； with 28 abstentions）。 It was too late。 The very day of this fall the neighbouring and hostile nation recalled its ambassador and flung eight millions of men into Madame Ceres' country。 War became universal； and the whole world was drowned in a torrent of blood。
THE ZENITH OF PENGUIN CIVILIZATION
Half a century after the events we have just related； Madame Ceres died surrounded with respect and veneration； in the eighty…ninth year of her age。 She had long been the widow of a statesman whose name she bore with dignity。 Her modest and quiet funeral was followed by the orphans of the parish and the sisters of the Sacred Compassion。
The deceased left all her property to the Charity of St。 Orberosia。
〃Alas！〃 sighed M。 Monnoyer； a canon of St。 Mael； as he received the pious legacy； 〃it was high time for a generous benefactor to come to the relief of our necessities。 Rich and poor； learned and ignorant are turning away from us。 And when we try to lead back these misguided souls； neither threats nor promises； neither gentleness nor violence； nor anything else is now successful。 The Penguin clergy pine in desolation； our country priests； reduced to following the humblest of trades； are shoeless
