and from which the revolution must come--for no people will long endure a self-contradictory régime--is the stone which is already rolling, and will let loose the avalanche and crush the colossus." "_Serve him right_, and good luck to him!" said His Excellency with a sarcastic smile, and then--after a little pause--"I am only afraid sometimes that we too shall take the _salto mortale_ with him, and----" "And stand firmer than ever on our feet," interrupted Giraldi quickly. "What have we to fear from the revolution, the people? Nothing, absolutely nothing! If people dance around the golden calf today, they will grovel so much the lower in the dust before Jehovah tomorrow. If today they enthrone the Goddess of Reason, tomorrow they will flee, like a child that has frightened itself, back to the bosom of the Mother Church. And if, as you said, Darwinism is really to be the religion of the future for Germany--very well; then we shall be Darwinians _par excellence_ and proclaim the new doctrine with holy zeal from the rostra of the universities; we know well enough that Nature wraps herself the more closely in her veil the more impatiently the inquisitive pupil pulls at it, and then, when he has looked into the hollow eyes of nothing, and lies crushed on the ground, we come and raise up the poor knave and comfort him with the admonition, 'Go thy way and sin no more'; and he goes his way and sins henceforth no more in the foolish thirst for knowledge, for the burden of ignorance is lighter and her yoke is easier--_quod erat demonstrandum_." The corners of His Excellency's mouth were drawn apart as far as possible. Even Giraldi was smiling. "I wish I had you here always," said His Excellency. "To tell Your Excellency things which you have long worn off on the soles of your shoes with which you mount the rostrum." "I generally speak from my place." "And ever at the right place." "It's often enough nothing but sound, and no one knows that better than I myself. One has to consider how things sound." "And not for naught. To us across the mountain the little silver bell is the huge bell of the cathedral, whose bronze voice calls the tardy to their duty and spurs on the brave to fiercer fight." "And that reminds me that I myself am a tardy one this moment, and that a fierce fight awaits me today in the Chamber." "His Excellency will not forget my little commission," said Giraldi.