L.: That is too long a story to tell you at present. One part used to be converted into cartridges, which emitted the most beautiful smoke in the world. Another went to pay the men who had got crippled in foreign wars. Then, when this expenditure brought invasion upon us, our polite friend, the enemy, was unwilling to take leave of us without carrying away some of our money as a _soutenir_, and this money had to be borrowed. J.: And what benefit do I derive from this now? L.: The satisfaction of saying-- Que je suis fier d'être Français Quand je regarde la colonne! J.: And the humiliation of leaving to my heirs an estate burdened with a perpetual rent-charge. Still, it is necessary to pay one's debts, whatever foolish use is made of the proceeds. So much for the disposal of one tun; but what about the five others? L.: One goes to support the public service, the civil list, the judges who protect your property when your neighbour wishes wrongfully to appropriate it, the gendarmes who protect you from robbers when you are asleep, the cantonnier who maintains the highways, the curé who baptizes your children, the schoolmaster who educates them, and, lastly, your humble servant, who cannot be expected to work exactly for nothing. J.: All right; service for service is quite fair, and I have nothing to say against it. I should like quite as well, no doubt, to deal directly with the rector and the schoolmaster on my own account; but I don't stand upon that. This accounts for the second tun--but we have still other four to account for. L.: Would you consider two tuns as more than your fair contribution to the expense of the army and navy? J.: Alas! that is a small affair, compared with what the two services have cost me already, for they have deprived me of two sons whom I dearly loved. L.: It is necessary to maintain the balance of power. J.: And would that balance not be quite as well maintained if the European powers were to reduce their forces by one-half or three -fourths? We should preserve our children and our money. All that is requisite is to come to a common understanding. L.: Yes; but they don't understand one another. J.: It is that which fills me with astonishment, for they suffer from it in common. L.: It is partly your own doing, Jacques Bonhomme. J.: You are joking, Mr Taxgatherer. Have I any voice in the matter? L.: Whom did you vote for as deputy? J.: A brave general officer, who will soon be a marshal, if God spares him. L.: And upon what does the gallant general live? J.: Upon my six tuns, I should think. L.: What would happen to him if he voted a reduction of the army, and of your contingent? J.: Instead of being made a marshal, he would be forced to retire. L.: Do you understand now that you have yourself.... J.: Let us pass on to the fifth tun, if you please. L.: That goes to Algeria.