“It is a sign of my being a philosopher,” gently replied my good master. “It is in the nature of wise men to irritate the rest of mankind. Anaxagoras was a celebrated example of it. I do not speak of Socrates who was but a sophist. But we see that in all times and in all countries the opinions of meditative minds were subjects of scandal. You think yourself very different from your enemies, Mr. Rockstrong, and that you are as lovable as they are odious. Allow me to tell you that this is but the effect of your pride and of your high courage. In actual fact, you share in common with those who condemned you, all human weaknesses and passions. If you are more honest than many of them, and even if you are a man of incomparable vivacity of mind, you are filled with a talent for hatred and discord which renders you very inconvenient in a well-regulated country. The calling of a journalist, in which you excel, has raised to the highest degree of perfection the wonderful partiality of your mind, and though a victim of injustice, you are yourself not just. What I have just said embroils me both with you and with your enemies, and I am very certain I shall never obtain a fat living from the minister who has them in his gift. But I prize freedom of mind more highly than a fat abbey or a cosy priory. I shall have succeeded in vexing all the world, but I shall die in peace, and in contentment of heart.” “Abbé,” half-laughingly, replied Mr. Rockstrong, “I forgive you, because I think you a little mad. You make no difference between rogues and honest men, and you would not rather have a free country than a despotic and shuffling government. You are a lunatic, and of no ordinary kind.” “Let us go and drink a pot of wine at the _Petit Bacchus_, Mr. Rockstrong,” said my good master, “and I will explain to you, while emptying my glass, why I am totally indifferent to forms of government, and why I do not trouble myself about any change of masters.” “Very willingly,” said Mr. Rockstrong, “I shall be interested to drink in company with such a bad arguer as you.” He sprang lightly down from his ladder, and we all three repaired to the inn. FOOTNOTES: [14] I have not found this Mr. Rockstrong mentioned in the memoirs relating to Monmouth’s Rebellion. (ANATOLE FRANCE.) XV REVOLUTIONARY MEASURES Mr. Rockstrong, who was a sensible man, bore my good master no malice for his sincerity of speech. When the landlord of the _Petit Bacchus_ had brought a pot of wine, the pamphleteer lifted his glass and drank to Abbé Coignard’s health, calling him a rogue, a friend of robbers, a tool of tyrants and an old scamp! all with quite a jovial air. My master returned his compliments with a good grace, congratulating him on the fact that he drank to a man whose natural humour had remained unaffected by philosophy.