’Shall I not? Well, if you will, and by grace of an example, such a heresy, say, as that, when the devil rules by divine right, the God who nominated him is best deposed.’ ’Yes, yes, to be sure. That is blasphemy as well as heresy. But I think of Messer Bembo, who is still His minister, and I believe your pupils go too far.’ ’Why, what hath this minister done for you?’ ’Very much, in intention.’ ’Well, I thought that was said to pave the other place; but, in truth, the issues of all things are confounded, since we have an angel for the Lord’s minister and a devil for His vicegerent.’ ’Pity of God! are they not? And ye would resolve them by deposing the Christ—by knocking out the very keystone of hope?’ ’Nay, by substituting a rock for a crumbling brick.’ ’What rock?’ ’The people.’ ’Might they not, too, elect a tyrant to be their representative?’ ’How could tyranny represent a commonwealth?’ ’A commonwealth! It is out, then! It is not God ye would depose, but Galeazzo. Commonwealth! Is that a name for keeping all men under a certain height? But the giant will dictate the standard, and any one may reach to him who can. Messer Montano, I seem to have heard of a republican called Cæsar.’ ’Then you must have heard of another called Brutus?’ ’Ay, to be sure; and of a third called Octavian.’ ’Those were distracted times, my friend.’ ’And what are these? Have you ever heard of the times when a man’s interest was one with his neighbour’s? Besides, the flame of art burns never so sprightly as under a despot. It finds no fuel in uniformity—each man equal to his neighbour.’ He put out groping hands pitifully. ’I loved my art,’ he quavered. ’They might have spared me to it!’ Montano bit his lip scornfully. It was on his tongue to spurn this spiritless creature. But he suppressed himself. ’What would you, then?’ he demanded; ’you, the wretched victim of the system you commend?’ ’Ah!’ sighed Lupo, ’ideally, Messer, an autocracy, with an angel at its head.’ The philosopher laughed harshly. ’Why,’ he sneered, ’there is your ideal come to hand. Be plain. Shall we depose a tyrant, and elect in his place this new-arrived, this divine boy, as ye all title him?’ ’Why not?’ Montano started and stared at the speaker. There was suggestion here—of a standard for innovation; of a rallying-point for reform. A republic, like a despotism, might find its telling battle-cry in a saint. The boy, as representing the liberty of conscience, was already a subject of popular adoration. Why should they not use him as a fulcrum to the lever of revolution, and, having done with, return him to the cloisters from which he drew? There was suggestion here. He mused a little, then broke out suddenly:— ’Brutus is none the less indispensable.’ ’I do not gainsay it, master.’ ’What! you do not? Then there, at least, we are agreed. Wilt have him come here?’ ’Who is he, this Brutus? I grope in the dark—O my God, in the dark!’