Volume I Part 38 (1/2)
”Religion?”
”Catholic.”
”Married or single?”
”Married.”
”With children,--how many?”
”Three,--a boy and two girls.”
”Do you follow any trade or profession?”
”No.”
”Living upon private means?”
”Yes.”
These, and a vast number of similar queries--they filled five sheets of long post--followed, touching where we came from, how we had travelled, our object in the journey, and twenty things of the like kind, till I began to feel that the examination in itself was not a small penalty for a light transgression. At last, after a close scrutiny into all my family matters, my money resources, and my habits, he entered upon another chapter, which I own I thought was pus.h.i.+ng the matter rather far, by saying, ”Apparently, Herr Dodd, you are one of those who think that the monarchies of Europe are obsolete systems of government, ill suited to the spirit and requirements of the age. Is it not so?”
If I had only a moment's time for reflection, I should have said, ”What is it to you how I think on these subjects? I don't belong to your country, and will render no account of my private sentiments to you;”
but, unfortunately, a discussion on politics is always ”nuts” to me,--I can't resist it,--and in I went, with that kind of specious generality that lays down a broad and wide foundation for any edifice you like afterwards to rear.
”Kings,” said I, ”are pretty much like other men,--good, bad, or indifferent, and, like other men, they are not bettered by being left to the sway of their own unbridled pa.s.sions and tempers. Wherever, therefore, there is no const.i.tution to bind them, the chances are that they make ducks and drakes of their subjects.”
I must tell you, Tom, that we conducted our interview in English, which the Commissary spoke fluently.
”The divine right of kings, then, you utterly overlook?”
”I deny it,--I laugh it to scorn,” said I. ”Look at the fellows we see on thrones,--one is a creature fit for Bedlam; another ought to be in Norfolk Island. If they possessed any of this divine right you talk of, should we have seen them scuttling away as they did the other day, because there was a row in their capitals?”
”That will do,--quite enough,” said he, stopping me short. ”Your sentiments are sufficiently clear and explicit. You are a worthy disciple of your friend Gauss.”
”I never heard of him till now,” said I.
”Nor of Isaac Henkenstrom?--nor Reichard Blitzler?--nor Johann von Darg?”
”Not one of them.”
”This you swear?”
”This I swear,” said I, firmly; but the words were not well out, when the door was opened at a signal made by the Commissary, and an old man, with a very white beard and in shabby black, was led forward.
”Do you know the Herr Professor now?” asked the Commissary of me.
”No,” said I, stoutly,--”never saw him before.”
”Bring in the others,” said he; and, to my astonishment, came forward three of the young fellows I had travelled with on foot from Saxony, but whose names I had not heard, or, if I heard, had forgotten.
”Are these men known to you?” asked the Prefect, with a sneer.