,and
the
song
sparkled
with
jolly
mirth
or
saucy
mimicry
.
To-night
,
being
Coningsby
's
initiation
,
there
was
a
special
general
meeting
of
the
Grumpy
Club
,
in
which
everybody
was
to
say
the
gayest
things
with
the
gravest
face
,
and
every
laugh
carried
a
forfeit
.
Lucian
was
the
inimitable
president
.
He
told
a
tale
for
which
he
was
famous
,
of
"
the
very
respectable
county
family
who
had
been
established
in
the
shire
for
several
generations
,
but
who
(
it
was
a
fact
)
had
been
ever
distinguished
by
the
strange
and
humiliating
peculiarity
of
being
born
with
sheeps
'
tails
.
"
The
remarkable
circumstances
under
which
Lucian
Gay
had
become
acquainted
with
this
fact
;
the
traditionary
mysteries
by
which
the
family
in
question
had
succeeded
for
generations
in
keeping
it
secret
;
the
decided
measures
to
which
the
chief
of
the
family
had
recourse
to
stop
for
ever
the
rumour
when
it
first
became
prevalent
;
and
finally
the
origin
and
result
of
the
legend
;
were
details
which
Lucian
Gay
with
the
most
rueful
countenance
loved
to
expend
upon
the
attentive
and
expanding
intelligence
of
a
new
member
of
the
Grumpy
Club
.
Familiar
as
all
present
were
with
the
story
whose
stimulus
of
agonizing
risibility
they
had
all
in
turn
experienced
,
it
was
with
extreme
difficulty
that
any
of
them
could
resist
the
fatal
explosion
which
was
to
be
attended
with
the
dreaded
penalty
.
The
Marquess
looked
on
the
table
with
desperate
seriousness
,
an
ominous
pucker
quivering
round
his
lip
;
Mr.
Melton
crammed
his
handkerchief
into
his
mouth
with
one
hand
,
while
he
lighted
the
wrong
end
of
a
cigar
with
the
other
;
one
youth
hung
over
the
back
of
his
chair
pinching
himself
like
a
faquir
,
while
another
hid
his
countenance
on
the
table
.
"
It
was
at
the
Hunt
dinner
,
"
continued
Lucian
Gay
in
an
almost
solemn
tone
,
"
that
an
idea
for
a
moment
was
prevalent
that
Sir
Mowbray
Cholmondeley
Fetherstonehaugh
,
as
the
head
of
the
family
,
had
resolved
to
terminate
for
ever
these
mysterious
aspersions
on
his
race
that
had
circulated
in
the
county
for
more
than
two
centuries
;
I
mean
that
the
highly
respectable
family
of
the
Cholmondeley
Fetherstonehaughs
had
the
misfortune
to
be
graced
with
that
appendage
to
which
I
have
referred
.
His
health
being
drunk
,
Sir
Mowbray
Cholmondeley
Fetherstonehaugh
rose
.
He
was
a
little
unpopular
at
the
moment
from
an
ugly
story
about
killing
foxes
,
and
the
guests
were
not
as
quiet
as
orators
generally
desire
,
so
the
Honourable
Baronet
prayed
particular
attention
to
a
matter
personal
to
himself
.
Instantly
there
was
a
dead
silence
—
"
but
here
Coningsby
,
who
had
moved
for
sometime
very
restlessly
on
his
chair
suddenly
started
up
,
and
struggling
for
a
moment
against
the
inward
convulsion
but
in
vain
,
stamped
against
the
floor
and
gave
a
shout
.
"
A
song
from
Mr.
Coningsby
,
"
said
the
president
of
the
Grumpy
Club
amid
an
universal
and
now
permissible
roar
of
laughter
.
Coningsby
could
not
sing
;
so
he
was
to
favour
them
as
a
substitute
with
a
speech
or
a
sentiment
.
But
Lucian
Gay
always
let
one
off
these
penalties
easily
,
and
indeed
was
ever
ready
to
fulfil
them
for
all
.
Song
,
speech
,
or
sentiment
,
he
poured
them
all
forth
;
nor
were
pastimes
more
active
wanting
.
He
could
dance
a
Tarantalla
like
a
Lazaroni
,
and
execute
a
Cracovienne
with
all
the
mincing
graces
of
an
Opera
heroine
.
His
powers
of
mimicry
indeed
were
great
and
versatile
.
But
in
nothing
was
he
so
happy
as
in
a
Parliamentary
debate
.
And
it
was
remarkable
that
,
though
himself
a
man
who
on
ordinary
occasions
was
quite
incapable
without
infinite
perplexity
of
publicly
expressing
his
sense
of
the
merest
courtesy
of
society
,
he
was
not
only
a
master
of
the
style
of
every
speaker
of
distinction
in
either
house
,
but
he
seemed
in
his
imitative
play
to
appropriate
their
intellectual
as
well
as
their
physical
peculiarities
,
and
presented
you
with
their
mind
as
well
as
their
manner
.
There
were
several
attempts
to-night
to
induce
Lucian
to
indulge
his
guests
with
a
debate
,
but
he
seemed
to
avoid
the
exertion
,
which
was
great
.
As
the
night
grew
old
however
,
and
every
hour
he
grew
more
lively
,
he
suddenly
broke
without
further
pressure
into
the
promised
diversion
;
and
Coningsby
listened
really
with
admiration
to
a
discussion
,
of
which
the
only
fault
was
that
it
was
more
Parliamentary
than
the
original
;
"
plus
Arabe
que
l'Arabie
.
"
The
Duke
was
never
more
curt
,
nor
Sir
Robert
more
specious
;
he
was
as
fiery
as
Stanley
,
and
as
acrid
as
Graham
.
Nor
did
he
do
their
opponents
less
justice
.
Lord
Palmerston
himself
never
treated
a
profound
subject
with
a
more
pleasant
volatility
;
and
when
Lucian
rose
at
an
early
hour
of
morn
,
in
a
full
house
alike
exhausted
and
excited
,
and
after
having
endured
for
hours
in
sarcastic
silence
the
menacing
finger
of
Sir
Robert
shaking
over
the
green
table
and
appealing
to
his
misdeeds
in
the
irrevocable
records
of
Hansard
,
Lord
John
himself
could
not
have
afforded
a
more
perfect
representative
of
pluck
.
But
loud
as
was
the
laughter
,
and
vehement
the
cheering
with
which
Lucian
's
performances
were
received
,
all
these
ebullitions
sank
into
insignificance
compared
with
the
reception
which
greeted
what
he
himself
announced
was
to
be
the
speech
of
the
night
.
Having
quaffed
full
many
a
quaigh
of
toddy
,
he
insisted
on
delivering
it
on
the
table
,
a
proposition
with
which
his
auditors
immediately
closed
.
The
orator
appeared
,
the
great
man
of
the
night
,
who
was
to
answer
everybody
on
both
sides
.
Ah
!
that
harsh
voice
,
that
arrogant
style
,
that
saucy
superficiality
which
decided
on
everything
,
that
insolent
ignorance
that
contradicted
everybody
;
it
was
impossible
to
mistake
them
!
And
Coningsby
had
the
pleasure
of
seeing
reproduced
before
him
the
guardian
of
his
youth
,
and
the
patron
of
the
mimic
—
the
Right
Honourable
Nicholas
Rigby
!
CHAPTER
XII
.
Madame
Colonna
with
that
vivacious
energy
which
characterises
the
south
,
had
no
sooner
seen
Coningsby
,
and
heard
his
praises
celebrated
by
his
grandfather
,
than
she
resolved
that
an
alliance
should
sooner
or
later
take
place
between
him
and
her
step-daughter
.
She
imparted
her
projects
without
delay
to
Lucretia
,
who
received
them
in
a
very
different
spirit
to
that
in
which
they
were
communicated
.
Lucretia
bore
as
little
resemblance
to
her
step-mother
in
character
,
as
in
person
.
If
she
did
not
possess
her
beauty
,
she
was
born
with
an
intellect
of
far
greater
capacity
and
reach
.
She
had
a
deep
judgment
.
A
hasty
alliance
with
a
youth
,
arranged
by
their
mutual
relatives
,
might
suit
very
well
the
clime
and
manners
of
Italy
,
but
Lucretia
was
well
aware
that
it
was
altogether
opposed
to
the
habits
and
feelings
of
this
country
.
She
had
no
conviction
that
either
Coningsby
would
wish
to
marry
her
,
or
if
willing
,
that
his
grandfather
would
sanction
such
a
step
in
one
as
yet
only
on
the
threshold
of
the
world
.
Lucretia
therefore
received
the
suggestions
and
proposals
of
Madame
Colonna
with
great
coldness
and
indifference
;
one
might
even
say
contempt
,
for
she
neither
felt
respect
for
this
lady
,
nor
was
she
sedulous
to
evince
it
.
Although
really
younger
than
Coningsby
,
Lucretia
felt
that
a
woman
of
eighteen
is
in
all
worldly
considerations
,
ten
years
older
than
a
youth
of
the
same
age
.
She
anticipated
that
a
considerable
time
might
elapse
before
Coningsby
would
feel
it
necessary
to
seal
his
destiny
by
marriage
,
while
on
the
other
hand
,
she
was
not
only
anxious
,
but
resolved
,
not
to
delay
on
her
part
her
emancipation
from
the
galling
position
in
which
she
very
frequently
found
herself
.
Lucretia
felt
rather
than
expressed
these
ideas
and
impressions
.
She
was
not
naturally
communicative
,
and
conversed
with
no
one
with
less
frankness
and
facility
than
with
her
step-mother
.
Madame
Colonna
therefore
found
no
reasons
in
her
conversation
with
Lucretia
to
change
her
determination
.
As
her
mind
was
not
very
ingenious
she
did
not
see
questions
in
those
various
lights
which
make
us
at
the
same
time
infirm
of
purpose
and
tolerant
.
What
she
fancied
ought
to
be
done
,
she
fancied
must
be
done
;
for
she
perceived
no
middle
course
or
alternative
.
For
the
rest
,
Lucretia
's
carriage
towards
her
gave
her
little
discomfort
.
Besides
she
herself
though
good-natured
,
was
obstinate
.
Her
feelings
were
not
very
acute
;
nothing
much
vexed
her
.
As
long
as
she
had
fine
dresses
,
good
dinners
,
and
opera
boxes
,
she
could
bear
her
plans
to
be
crossed
like
a
philosopher
;
and
her
consolation
under
her
unaccomplished
devices
was
her
admirable
consistency
,
which
always
assured
her
that
her
projects
were
wise
,
though
unfulfilled
.
She
broke
her
purpose
to
Mr.
Rigby
that
she
might
gain
not
only
his
adhesion
to
her
views
,
but
his
assistance
in
achieving
them
.
As
Madame
Colonna
in
Mr.
Rigby
's
estimation
exercised
more
influence
over
Lord
Monmouth
than
any
other
individual
,
faithful
to
his
policy
or
practice
,
he
agreed
with
all
Madame
Colonna
's
plans
and
wishes
,
and
volunteered
instantly
to
further
them
.
As
for
the
Prince
,
his
wife
never
consulted
him
on
any
subject
,
nor
did
he
wish
to
be
consulted
.
On
the
contrary
,
he
had
no
opinion
about
anything
.
All
that
he
required
was
that
he
should
be
surrounded
by
what
contributed
to
his
personal
enjoyment
,
that
he
should
never
be
troubled
,
and
that
he
should
have
billiards
.
He
was
not
inexpert
in
field-sports
,
rode
indeed
very
well
for
an
Italian
,
but
he
never
cared
to
be
out
of
doors
;
and
there
was
only
one
room
in
the
interior
which
passionately
interested
him
.
It
was
where
the
echoing
balls
denoted
the
sweeping
hazard
or
the
effective
cannonade
.
That
was
the
chamber
where
the
Prince
Colonna
literally
existed
.
Half
an
hour
after
breakfast
he
was
in
the
billiard
room
;
he
never
quitted
it
until
he
dressed
for
dinner
;
and
he
generally
contrived
,
while
the
world
were
amused
or
amusing
themselves
at
the
comedy
or
in
the
dance
,
to
steal
down
with
some
congenial
sprites
to
the
magical
and
illumined
chamber
,
and
use
his
cue
until
bedtime
.
Faithful
to
her
first
impressions
,
Lucretia
had
made
no
difference
in
her
demeanour
to
Coningsby
to
that
which
she
offered
to
the
other
guests
.
Polite
,
but
uncommunicative
;
ready
to
answer
,
but
never
originating
conversation
;
she
charmed
him
as
little
by
her
manner
as
by
her
person
;
and
after
some
attempts
not
very
painstaking
to
interest
her
,
Coningsby
had
ceased
to
address
her
.
The
day
passed
by
with
only
a
faint
recognition
between
them
;
even
that
sometimes
omitted
.
When
however
Lucretia
observed
that
Coningsby
had
become
one
of
the
most
notable
persons
in
the
castle
;
when
she
heard
everywhere
of
his
talents
and
accomplishments
,
his
beauty
and
grace
and
great
acquirements
,
and
perceived
that
he
was
courted
by
all
;
that
Lord
Monmouth
omitted
no
occasion
publicly
to
evince
towards
him
his
regard
and
consideration
;
that
he
seemed
generally
looked
upon
in
the
light
of
his
grandfather
's
heir
,
and
that
Lady
St.
Julians
,
more
learned
in
that
respect
than
any
lady
in
the
kingdom
,
was
heard
more
than
once
to
regret
that
she
had
not
brought
another
daughter
with
her
,
Clara
Isabella
as
well
as
Augustina
;
the
Princess
Lucretia
began
to
imagine
that
Madame
Colonna
after
all
,
might
not
be
so
extravagant
in
her
purpose
,
as
she
had
first
supposed
.
She
therefore
surprised
Coningsby
with
the
almost
affectionate
moroseness
with
which
,
while
she
hated
to
sing
,
she
yet
found
pleasure
in
singing
for
him
alone
.
And
it
is
impossible
to
say
what
might
not
have
been
the
next
move
in
her
tactics
in
this
respect
,
had
not
the
very
night
on
which
she
had
resolved
to
commence
the
enchantment
of
Coningsby
,
introduced
to
her
Sidonia
.
The
Princess
Lucretia
met
her
fate
as
she
encountered
the
dark
still
glance
of
the
friend
of
Lord
Eskdale
.
He
too
beheld
a
woman
unlike
other
women
,
and
with
his
fine
experience
both
as
a
man
and
a
physiologist
felt
that
he
was
in
the
presence
of
no
ordinary
organization
.
From
the
evening
of
his
introduction
,
Sidonia
sought
the
society
of
the
Princess
Lucretia
.
He
could
not
complain
of
her
reserve
.
She
threw
out
her
mind
in
various
and
highly
cultivated
intelligence
.
He
recognised
in
her
a
deep
and
subtile
spirit
,
considerable
reading
for
a
woman
,
habits
of
thought
,
and
a
soul
passionate
and
daring
.
She
resolved
to
subdued
one
whose
appreciation
she
had
gained
,
and
who
had
subdued
her
.
The
profound
meaning
and
the
calm
manner
of
Sidonia
combined
to
quell
her
spirit
.
She
struggled
against
the
spell
.
She
tried
to
rival
his
power
;
to
cope
with
him
,
and
with
the
same
weapons
.
But
prompt
as
was
her
thought
and
bright
as
was
its
expression
,
her
heart
beat
in
tumult
;
and
with
all
her
apparent
serenity
,
her
agitated
soul
was
the
prey
of
absorbing
passion
.
She
could
not
contend
with
that
intelligent
,
yet
inscrutable
,
eye
;
with
that
manner
so
full
of
interest
and
respect
,
and
yet
so
tranquil
.
Besides
they
were
not
on
equal
terms
.
Here
was
a
girl
contending
with
a
man
learned
in
the
world
's
way
.
Between
Sidonia
and
Coningsby
there
at
once
occurred
companionship
.
The
morning
after
his
arrival
they
went
out
shooting
together
.
After
a
long
ramble
they
would
stretch
themselves
on
the
turf
under
a
shady
tree
,
often
by
the
side
some
brook
where
the
cresses
grow
,
that
added
a
luxury
to
their
sporting
meal
,
and
then
Coningsby
would
lead
their
conversation
to
some
subject
on
which
Sidonia
would
pour
out
his
mind
with
all
that
depth
of
reflection
,
variety
of
knowledge
,
and
richness
of
illustrative
memory
,
which
distinguished
him
;
and
which
offered
so
striking
a
contrast
to
the
sharp
talent
,
the
shallow
information
,
and
the
worldly
cunning
that
make
a
Rigby
.
This
fellowship
between
Sidonia
and
Coningsby
elevated
the
latter
still
more
in
the
estimation
of
Lucretia
,
and
rendered
her
still
more
desirous
of
gaining
his
good
will
and
opinion
.
A
great
friendship
seemed
to
have
arisen
between
them
,
and
the
world
began
to
believe
that
there
must
be
some
foundations
for
Madame
Colonna
's
inuendoes
.
That
lady
herself
was
not
in
the
least
alarmed
by
the
attention
which
Sidonia
paid
her
step-daughter
.
It
was
of
course
well-known
that
Sidonia
was
not
a
marrying
man
.
He
was
however
a
great
friend
of
Mr.
Coningsby
,
his
presence
and
society
brought
Coningsby
and
Lucretia
more
together
;
and
however
flattered
her
daughter
might
be
for
the
moment
by
Sidonia
's
homage
,
still
as
she
would
ultimately
find
out
,
if
indeed
she
ever
cared
so
to
do
,
that
Sidonia
could
only
be
her
admirer
,
Madame
Colonna
had
no
kind
of
doubt
,
that
ultimately
Coningsby
would
be
Lucretia
's
husband
,
as
she
had
arranged
from
the
first
.
The
Princess
Lucretia
was
a
fine
horsewoman
,
though
she
rarely
joined
the
various
riding-parties
that
were
daily
formed
at
the
Castle
.
Often
indeed
,
attended
only
by
her
groom
,
she
met
the
equestrians
.
Now
she
would
ride
with
Sidonia
and
Coningsby
,
and
as
a
female
companion
was
indispensable
,
she
insisted
upon
"
La
Petite
"
accompanying
her
.
This
was
a
fearful
trial
for
Flora
,
but
she
encountered
it
,
encouraged
by
the
kind
solicitude
of
Coningsby
,
who
always
seemed
her
friend
.
Very
shortly
after
the
arrival
of
Sidonia
,
the
Archduke
and
his
suite
quitted
the
Castle
,
which
had
been
His
Highness
's
head-quarters
during
his
visit
to
the
manufacturing
districts
;
but
no
other
great
change
in
the
assembled
company
occurred
for
some
little
time
.
CHAPTER
XIII
.
"
You
will
observe
one
curious
trait
,
"
said
Sidonia
to
Coningsby
,
"
in
the
history
of
this
country
;
the
depositary
of
power
is
always
unpopular
,
all
combine
against
it
,
always
it
falls
.
Power
was
deposited
in
the
great
Barons
;
the
Church
using
the
King
for
its
instrument
crushed
the
great
Barons
.
Power
was
deposited
in
the
Church
;
the
King
bribing
the
Parliament
plundered
the
Church
.
Power
was
deposited
in
the
King
;
the
Parliament
using
the
People
beheaded
the
King
,
expelled
the
King
,
changed
the
King
,
and
finally
,
for
a
King
substituted
an
administrative
officer
.
For
one
hundred
and
fifty
years
Power
has
been
deposited
in
the
Parliament
,
and
for
the
last
sixty
or
seventy
years
it
has
been
becoming
more
and
more
unpopular
.
In
1830
it
was
endeavoured
by
a
reconstruction
to
regain
the
popular
affection
;
but
in
truth
,
as
the
Parliament
then
only
made
itself
more
powerful
,
it
has
only
become
more
odious
.
As
we
see
that
the
Barons
,
the
Church
,
the
King
,
have
in
turn
devoured
each
other
,
and
that
the
Parliament
,
the
last
devourer
,
remains
,
it
is
impossible
to
resist
the
impression
that
this
body
also
is
doomed
to
be
destroyed
,
and
he
is
a
sagacious
statesman
who
may
detect
in
what
form
and
in
what
quarter
the
great
consumer
will
arise
.
"
"
You
take
then
a
dark
view
of
our
position
?
"
"
Troubled
not
dark
.
I
do
not
ascribe
to
political
institutions
that
paramount
influence
which
it
is
the
feeling
of
this
age
to
attribute
to
them
.
The
Senate
that
confronted
Brennus
in
the
Forum
was
the
same
body
that
registered
in
an
after
age
the
ribald
decrees
of
a
Nero
.
Trial
by
jury
,
for
example
,
is
looked
upon
by
all
as
the
Palladium
of
our
liberties
;
yet
a
jury
at
a
very
recent
period
of
our
own
history
,
the
reign
of
Charles
II
.
was
a
tribunal
as
iniquitous
as
the
Inquisition
.
"
And
a
graver
expression
stole
over
the
countenance
of
Sidonia
as
he
remembered
what
that
Inquisition
had
operated
on
his
own
race
and
his
own
destiny
.
"
There
are
families
in
this
country
,
"
he
continued
,
"
of
both
the
great
historical
parties
,
that
in
the
persecution
of
their
houses
,
the
murder
and
proscription
of
some
of
their
most
illustrious
members
,
found
judges
as
unjust
and
relentless
in
an
open
jury
of
their
countrymen
,
as
we
did
in
the
conclaves
of
Madrid
and
Seville
.
"
"
Where
then
would
you
look
for
hope
?
"
"
In
what
is
more
powerful
than
laws
and
institutions
,
and
without
which
the
best
laws
and
the
most
skilful
institutions
may
be
a
dead
letter
,
or
the
very
means
of
tyranny
;
in
the
national
character
.
It
is
not
in
the
increased
feebleness
of
its
institutions
that
I
see
the
peril
of
England
;
it
is
in
the
decline
of
its
character
as
a
community
.
"
"
And
yet
you
could
scarcely
describe
this
as
an
age
of
corruption
?
"
"
Not
of
political
corruption
.
But
it
is
an
age
of
social
disorganisation
,
for
more
dangerous
in
its
consequences
,
because
far
more
extensive
.
You
may
have
a
corrupt
government
and
a
pure
community
;
you
may
have
a
corrupt
community
and
a
pure
administration
.
Which
would
you
elect
?
"
"
Neither
,
"
said
Coningsby
;
"
I
wish
to
see
a
people
full
of
faith
,
and
a
government
full
of
duty
.
"
"
Rely
upon
it
,
"
said
Sidonia
,
"
that
England
should
think
more
of
the
community
and
less
of
the
government
.
"
"
But
tell
me
,
what
do
you
understand
by
the
term
national
character
?
"
"
A
character
is
an
assemblage
of
qualities
;
the
character
of
England
should
be
an
assemblage
of
great
qualities
.
"
"
But
we
cannot
deny
that
the
English
have
great
virtues
.
"
"
The
civilisation
of
a
thousand
years
must
produce
great
virtues
:
but
we
are
speaking
of
the
decline
of
public
virtue
,
not
its
existence
.
"
"
In
what
then
do
you
trace
that
decline
?
"
"
In
the
fact
that
the
various
classes
of
this
country
are
arrayed
against
each
other
.
"
"
But
to
what
do
you
attribute
those
reciprocal
hostilities
?
"
"
Not
entirely
,
not
even
principally
,
to
those
economical
causes
of
which
we
hear
so
much
.
I
look
upon
all
such
as
secondary
causes
which
in
a
certain
degree
must
always
exist
;
which
obtrude
themselves
in
troubled
times
;
and
which
at
all
times
it
is
the
business
of
wise
statesmen
to
watch
,
to
regulate
,
to
ameliorate
,
to
modify
.
"
"
I
am
speaking
to
elicit
truth
,
not
to
maintain
opinions
,
"
said
Coningsby
;
"
for
I
have
none
,
"
he
added
mournfully
.
"
I
think
,
"
said
Sidonia
,
"
that
there
is
no
error
so
vulgar
as
to
believe
that
revolutions
are
occasioned
by
economical
causes
.
They
come
in
,
doubtless
,
very
often
to
precipitate
a
catastrophe
;
very
rarely
do
they
occasion
one
.
I
know
no
period
,
for
example
,
when
physical
comfort
was
more
diffused
in
England
than
in
1640.
England
had
a
moderate
population
,
a
very
improved
agriculture
,
a
rich
commerce
;
yet
she
was
on
the
eve
of
the
greatest
and
most
violent
changes
that
she
has
as
yet
experienced
.
"
"
That
was
a
religious
movement
.
"
"
Admit
it
;
the
cause
then
was
not
physical
.
The
imagination
of
England
rose
against
the
government
.
It
proves
then
that
when
that
faculty
is
astir
in
a
nation
,
it
will
sacrifice
even
physical
comfort
to
follow
its
impulses
.
"
"
Do
you
think
then
there
is
a
wild
desire
for
extensive
political
change
in
the
country
?
"
"
Hardly
that
:
England
is
perplexed
at
the
present
moment
,
not
inventive
.
That
will
be
the
next
phasis
in
her
moral
state
,
and
to
that
I
wish
to
draw
your
thoughts
.
For
myself
while
I
ascribe
little
influence
to
physical
causes
for
the
production
of
this
perplexity
,
I
am
still
less
of
opinion
that
it
can
be
removed
by
any
new
disposition
of
political
power
.
It
would
only
aggravate
the
evil
.
That
would
be
recurring
to
the
old
error
of
supposing
you
can
necessarily
find
national
content
in
political
institutions
.
A
political
institution
is
a
machine
;
the
motive
power
is
the
national
character
.
With
that
it
rests
,
whether
the
machine
will
benefit
society
,
or
destroy
it
.
Society
in
this
country
is
perplexed
,
almost
paralyzed
;
in
time
it
will
move
,
and
it
will
devise
.
How
are
the
elements
of
the
nation
to
be
blended
again
together
?
In
what
spirit
is
that
reorganisation
to
take
place
?
"
"
To
know
that
would
be
to
know
every
thing
.
"
"
At
least
let
us
free
ourselves
from
the
double
ignorance
of
the
Platonists
.
Let
us
not
be
ignorant
that
we
are
ignorant
.
"
"
I
have
emancipated
myself
from
that
darkness
for
a
long
time
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
Long
has
my
mind
been
musing
over
these
thoughts
,
but
to
me
all
is
still
obscurity
.
"
"
In
this
country
,
"
said
Sidonia
,
"
since
the
peace
,
there
has
been
an
attempt
to
advocate
a
reconstruction
of
society
on
a
purely
rational
basis
.
The
principle
of
Utility
has
been
powerfully
developed
.
I
speak
not
with
lightness
of
the
labours
of
the
disciples
of
that
school
.
I
bow
to
intellect
in
every
form
:
and
we
should
be
grateful
to
any
school
of
philosophers
even
if
we
disagree
with
them
;
doubly
grateful
in
this
country
,
where
for
so
long
a
period
our
statesmen
were
in
so
pitiable
an
arrear
of
public
intelligence
.
There
has
been
an
attempt
to
reconstruct
society
on
a
basis
of
material
motives
and
calculations
.
It
has
failed
.
It
must
ultimately
have
failed
under
any
circumstances
;
its
failure
in
an
ancient
and
densely
peopled
kingdom
was
inevitable
.
How
limited
is
human
reason
,
the
profoundest
inquirers
are
most
conscious
.
We
are
not
indebted
to
the
Reason
of
man
for
any
of
the
great
achievements
which
are
the
landmarks
of
human
action
and
human
progress
.
It
was
not
Reason
that
besieged
Troy
;
it
was
not
Reason
that
sent
forth
the
Saracen
from
the
Desart
to
conquer
the
world
;
that
inspired
the
Crusades
;
that
instituted
the
Monastic
orders
;
it
was
not
Reason
that
produced
the
Jesuits
;
above
all
,
it
was
not
Reason
that
created
the
French
Revolution
.
Man
is
only
truly
great
when
he
acts
from
the
passions
;
never
irresistible
but
when
he
appeals
to
the
Imagination
.
Even
Mormon
counts
more
votaries
than
Bentham
.
"
"
And
you
think
then
that
as
Imagination
once
subdued
the
State
,
Imagination
may
now
save
it
?
"
"
Man
is
made
to
adore
and
to
obey
:
but
if
you
will
not
command
him
;
if
you
give
him
nothing
to
worship
;
he
will
fashion
his
own
divinities
,
and
find
a
chieftain
in
his
own
passions
.
"
"
But
where
can
we
find
faith
in
a
nation
of
sectaries
?
Who
can
feel
loyalty
to
a
Sovereign
of
Downing
Street
?
"
"
I
speak
of
the
eternal
principles
of
human
nature
;
you
answer
me
with
the
passing
accidents
of
the
hour
.
Sects
rise
and
sects
disappear
.
Where
are
the
Fifth-Monarchy
men
?
England
is
governed
by
Downing
Street
;
once
it
was
governed
by
Alfred
and
Elizabeth
.
"
CHAPTER
XIV
.
About
this
time
a
steeple-chase
in
the
West
of
England
had
attracted
considerable
attention
.
This
sport
was
then
of
recent
introduction
in
England
,
and
is
in
fact
an
importation
of
Irish
growth
,
although
it
has
flourished
in
our
soil
.
A
young
guardsman
who
was
then
a
guest
at
the
Castle
,
and
who
had
been
in
garrison
in
Ireland
,
had
some
experience
of
this
pastime
in
the
Kildare
country
,
and
he
proposed
that
they
should
have
a
steeple
chase
at
Coningsby
.
This
was
a
suggestion
very
agreeable
to
the
Marquess
of
Beaumanoir
celebrated
for
his
feats
of
horsemanship
,
and
indeed
to
most
of
the
guests
.
It
was
agreed
that
the
race
should
come
off
at
once
,
before
any
of
the
present
company
,
many
of
whom
gave
symptoms
of
being
on
the
wing
,
had
quitted
the
Castle
.
The
young
guardsman
and
Mr.
Guy
Flouncey
had
surveyed
the
country
,
and
had
selected
a
tract
which
they
esteemed
very
appropriate
for
the
scene
of
action
.
From
a
hill
of
common
land
you
looked
down
upon
the
valley
of
Coningsby
richly
cultivated
;
deeply
ditched
and
stiffly
fenced
;
the
valley
was
bounded
by
another
rising
ground
,
and
the
scene
was
admirably
calculated
to
give
an
extensive
view
to
a
multitude
.
The
distance
along
the
valley
was
to
be
two
miles
out
,
and
home
again
;
the
starting
post
being
also
the
winning
post
,
and
the
flags
which
were
placed
on
every
fence
that
the
horses
were
to
pass
,
were
to
be
passed
on
the
left
hand
of
the
rider
both
going
and
coming
;
so
that
although
the
horses
had
to
leap
the
same
fences
forward
and
backward
,
they
could
not
come
over
the
same
place
twice
.
In
the
last
field
before
they
turned
,
was
a
brook
seventeen
feet
clear
from
side
to
side
,
with
good
taking
off
on
both
banks
.
This
was
the
critical
venture
.
Lord
Monmouth
highly
approved
the
scheme
,
but
mentioned
that
the
sweepstakes
must
be
moderate
and
open
to
the
whole
county
.
The
neighbourhood
had
a
week
of
preparation
,
and
the
entries
for
the
Coningsby
steeple-chase
were
numerous
.
Lord
Monmouth
after
a
reserve
for
his
own
account
placed
his
stable
at
the
service
of
his
guests
.
For
himself
he
offered
to
back
his
horse
,
Sir
Robert
,
which
was
to
be
ridden
by
his
grandson
.
Now
nothing
was
spoken
or
thought
of
at
Coningsby
Castle
except
the
coming
sport
.
The
ladies
shared
the
general
excitement
.
They
embroidered
handkerchiefs
,
and
scarfs
,
and
gloves
,
with
the
respective
colours
of
the
rivals
,
and
tried
to
make
jockey-caps
.
Lady
St.
Julians
postponed
her
intended
departure
in
consequence
.
Madame
Colonna
wished
that
some
means
could
be
contrived
by
which
they
might
all
win
.
Sidonia
with
the
other
competitors
had
ridden
over
the
country
,
and
marked
well
the
points
;
he
glanced
rather
sharply
at
the
brook
,
and
on
his
return
to
the
Castle
he
sent
a
despatch
for
some
of
his
stud
.
Coningsby
was
all
anxiety
to
win
.
He
was
proud
of
the
confidence
of
his
grandfather
in
backing
him
.
He
had
a
powerful
horse
and
a
first-rate
fencer
,
and
he
was
resolved
himself
not
to
flinch
.
On
the
night
before
the
race
retiring
somewhat
earlier
than
usual
to
his
chamber
,
he
observed
on
his
dressing-table
a
small
packet
addressed
to
his
name
,
and
in
an
unknown
hand-writing
.
Opening
it
he
found
a
very
pretty
jockey
whip
embroidered
with
his
colours
of
pink
and
white
.
This
was
a
perplexing
circumstance
,
but
he
fancied
it
on
the
whole
a
happy
omen
.
And
who
was
the
donor
?
Certainly
not
the
Princess
Lucretia
,
for
he
had
observed
her
fashioning
some
maroon
ribands
which
were
the
colours
of
Sidonia
.
It
could
scarcely
be
from
Mrs.
Guy
Flouncey
.
Perhaps
Madame
Colonna
to
please
—
the
Marquess
?
Thinking
over
this
incident
he
fell
asleep
.
The
morning
before
the
race
Sidonia
's
horses
arrived
.
All
went
to
examine
them
at
the
stables
.
Among
them
was
an
Arab
mare
.
Coningsby
recognised
the
Daughter
of
the
Star
.
She
was
greatly
admired
for
her
points
;
but
Guy
Flouncey
whispered
to
Mr.
Melton
that
she
never
could
do
the
work
.
"
But
Lord
Beaumanoir
says
he
is
all
for
speed
against
strength
in
these
affairs
,
"
said
Mr.
Melton
.
Guy
Flouncey
smiled
incredulously
.
The
night
before
the
race
it
rained
heavily
.
"
I
take
it
the
country
will
not
be
very
like
the
desarts
of
Arabia
,
"
said
Mr.
Guy
Flouncey
with
a
knowing
look
to
Mr.
Melton
,
who
was
noting
a
bet
in
his
memorandum
book
.
The
morning
was
very
fine
,
clear
and
sunny
,
with
a
soft
western
breeze
.
The
starting
post
was
about
three
miles
from
the
Castle
;
but
long
before
the
hour
,
the
surrounding
hills
were
covered
with
people
;
squire
and
farmer
;
with
no
lack
of
their
wives
and
daughters
;
many
a
hind
in
his
smock-frock
,
and
many
an
"
operative
"
from
the
neighbouring
factories
.
The
"
gentlemen
riders
"
gradually
arrived
.
The
entries
were
very
numerous
,
though
it
was
understood
that
not
more
than
a
dozen
would
start
,
and
half
of
these
were
the
guests
of
Lord
Monmouth
.
At
half-past
one
the
cortège
from
the
Castle
arrived
,
and
took
up
the
post
which
had
been
prepared
for
them
on
the
summit
of
the
hill
.
Lord
Monmouth
was
very
much
cheered
on
his
arrival
.
In
the
carriage
with
him
were
Madame
Colonna
and
Lady
St.
Julians
.
The
Princess
Lucretia
,
Lady
Gaythorpe
,
Mrs.
Guy
Flouncey
,
accompanied
by
Lord
Eskdale
and
other
cavaliers
,
formed
a
brilliant
company
.
There
was
scarcely
a
domestic
in
the
Castle
who
was
not
there
.
The
comedians
indeed
did
not
care
to
come
,
but
Villebecque
prevailed
upon
Flora
to
drive
with
him
to
the
race
in
a
buggy
he
borrowed
of
the
steward
.
The
start
was
to
be
at
two
o'clock
.
The
"
gentlemen
jockeys
"
are
mustered
.
Never
were
riders
mounted
and
appointed
in
better
style
.
The
stewards
and
the
clerk
of
the
course
attend
them
to
the
starting-post
.
There
they
are
now
assembled
.
Guy
Flouncey
adjusts
his
stirrup-leathers
;
Mr.
Melton
ties
a
knot
in
his
bridle
.
In
a
few
moments
,
the
irrevocable
monosyllable
will
be
uttered
.
The
bugle
sounds
for
them
to
face
about
:
the
Clerk
of
the
Course
sings
out
:
"
Gentlemen
,
are
you
all
ready
?
"
No
objection
made
,
the
word
given
to
go
,
and
fifteen
riders
start
in
excellent
style
.
Prince
Colonna
,
who
rode
like
Prince
Rupert
,
took
the
lead
,
followed
close
by
a
stout
yeoman
on
an
old
white
horse
of
great
provincial
celebrity
,
who
made
steady
running
,
and
from
his
appearance
and
action
,
a
dangerous
customer
.
The
rest
,
with
two
exceptions
,
followed
in
a
cluster
at
no
great
distance
,
and
in
this
order
they
continued
with
very
slight
variation
for
the
two
first
miles
,
though
the
fences
were
frequent
and
one
or
two
of
them
awkward
.
Indeed
they
appeared
more
like
horses
running
over
a
course
than
over
a
country
.
The
two
exceptions
were
Lord
Beaumanoir
on
his
horse
Sunbeam
and
Sidonia
on
the
Arab
.
These
kept
somewhat
slightly
in
the
rear
.
Almost
in
this
wise
they
approached
the
dreaded
brook
.
Indeed
with
the
exception
of
the
last
two
riders
who
were
about
thirty
yards
behind
,
it
seemed
that
you
might
have
covered
the
rest
of
the
field
with
a
cloak
.
They
arrived
at
the
brook
at
the
same
moment
:
seventeen
feet
of
water
between
strong
sound
banks
is
no
holiday
work
;
but
they
charged
with
unfaltering
intrepidity
.
But
what
a
revolution
in
their
spirited
order
did
that
instant
produce
!
A
masked
battery
of
cannister
and
grape
could
not
have
achieved
more
terrible
execution
.
Coningsby
alone
clearly
lighted
on
the
opposing
bank
;
but
for
the
rest
of
them
,
it
seemed
for
a
moment
,
that
they
were
all
in
the
middle
of
the
brook
,
one
over
another
,
splashing
,
kicking
,
swearing
;
every
one
trying
to
get
out
and
keep
others
in
.
Mr.
Melton
and
the
stout
yeoman
regained
their
saddles
and
were
soon
again
in
chace
.
The
Prince
lost
his
horse
,
and
was
not
alone
in
his
misfortune
.
Mr.
Guy
Flouncey
lay
on
his
back
with
a
horse
across
his
diaphragm
;
only
his
head
above
the
water
,
and
his
mouth
full
of
chick-weed
and
dock
leaves
.
And
if
help
had
not
been
at
hand
,
he
and
several
others
might
have
remained
struggling
in
their
watery
bed
for
a
considerable
period
.
In
the
midst
of
this
turmoil
,
the
Marquess
and
Sidonia
at
the
same
moment
cleared
the
brook
.
Affairs
now
became
very
interesting
.
All
heads
were
now
turned
to
the
winning
post
.
Coningsby
was
in
front
;
Sidonia
and
the
Marquess
following
;
Mr.
Melton
had
gone
the
wrong
side
of
a
flag
,
and
the
stout
yeoman
,
though
close
at
hand
,
was
already
trusting
much
to
his
spurs
.
In
the
extreme
distance
might
be
detected
three
or
four
stragglers
.
Thus
they
continued
until
within
three
fields
of
the
winning
post
.
A
ploughed
field
finished
the
old
white
horse
;
the
yeoman
stuck
his
spurs
to
the
rowels
,
but
the
only
effect
of
the
experiment
was
,
that
the
horse
stood
stock
still
.
Coningsby
,
Sidonia
,
and
the
Marquess
were
now
altogether
.
The
winning
post
is
in
sight
,
and
a
high
and
strong
gate
leads
to
the
last
field
.
Coningsby
gallantly
dashed
forward
and
sent
Sir
Robert
at
the
gate
,
but
he
had
over-estimated
his
horse
's
powers
at
this
point
of
the
game
,
and
a
rattling
fall
was
the
consequence
:
however
,
horse
and
rider
were
both
on
the
right
side
,
and
Coningsby
was
in
his
saddle
again
,
and
near
at
hand
.
It
seemed
that
the
Marquess
was
winning
.
There
was
only
one
more
fence
;
and
that
the
foot
people
had
made
a
breach
in
by
the
side
of
a
gate
post
and
wide
enough
,
as
was
said
,
for
a
broad
wheel
waggon
to
travel
by
.
Instead
of
passing
straight
over
this
gap
,
Sunbeam
swerved
against
the
gate
and
threw
his
rider
.
This
was
decisive
.
The
Daughter
of
the
Star
,
who
was
still
going
beautifully
,
pulling
freely
,
and
her
jockey
sitting
still
,
sprang
over
the
gap
and
went
in
first
,
Coningsby
on
Sir
Robert
being
placed
second
.
The
distance
measured
was
about
four
miles
;
there
were
thirty-nine
leaps
and
it
was
done
under
fifteen
minutes
.
Lord
Monmouth
was
well
content
with
the
prowess
of
his
grandson
,
and
his
extreme
cordiality
consoled
Coningsby
under
a
defeat
,
which
was
very
vexatious
.
It
was
some
alleviation
that
he
was
beaten
by
Sidonia
.
Madame
Colonna
even
shed
tears
at
her
young
friend
's
disappointment
,
and
mourned
it
especially
for
Lucretia
,
who
had
said
nothing
,
though
a
flush
might
be
observed
on
her
usually
pale
countenance
.
Villebecque
who
had
betted
was
so
extremely
excited
by
the
whole
affair
,
especially
during
the
last
three
minutes
,
that
he
quite
forgot
his
quiet
companion
,
and
when
he
looked
round
he
found
Flora
fainting
.
"
You
rode
well
,
"
said
Sidonia
to
Coningsby
;
"
but
your
horse
was
more
strong
than
swift
.
After
all
this
thing
is
a
race
;
and
notwithstanding
Solomon
,
in
a
race
speed
must
win
.
"
CHAPTER
XV
.
Notwithstanding
the
fatigues
of
the
morning
,
the
evening
was
past
with
great
gaiety
at
the
castle
.
The
gentlemen
all
vowed
,
that
far
from
being
inconvenienced
by
their
mishaps
,
they
felt
,
on
the
whole
,
rather
better
for
them
.
Mr.
Guy
Flouncey
indeed
did
not
seem
quite
so
limber
and
flexible
as
usual
;
and
the
young
guardsman
,
who
had
previously
discoursed
in
an
almost
alarming
style
of
the
perils
and
feats
of
the
Kildare
country
,
had
subsided
into
a
remarkable
reserve
.
Lord
Monmouth
beckoned
to
Coningsby
to
sit
by
him
on
the
sofa
,
and
spoke
of
his
approaching
University
life
.
He
gave
his
grandson
a
great
deal
of
good
advice
:
told
him
to
avoid
drinking
,
especially
if
he
ever
chanced
to
play
cards
,
which
he
hoped
he
never
would
;
urged
the
expediency
of
never
borrowing
money
,
and
of
confining
his
loans
to
small
sums
and
then
only
to
friends
of
whom
he
wished
to
get
rid
;
most
particularly
impressed
on
him
never
to
permit
his
feelings
to
be
engaged
by
any
woman
;
nobody
,
he
assured
Coningsby
,
despised
that
weakness
more
than
women
themselves
.
Indeed
feeling
of
any
kind
did
not
suit
the
present
age
—
it
was
not
bon
ton
;
and
in
some
degree
always
made
a
man
ridiculous
.
Coningsby
was
always
to
have
before
him
the
possible
catastrophe
of
becoming
ridiculous
.
It
was
the
test
of
conduct
,
Lord
Monmouth
said
;
a
fear
of
becoming
ridiculous
is
the
best
guide
in
life
,
and
will
save
a
man
from
all
sorts
of
scrapes
.
For
the
rest
,
Coningsby
was
to
appear
at
Cambridge
as
became
Lord
Monmouth
's
favourite
grandson
.
His
grandfather
had
opened
an
account
for
him
with
Drummonds
on
whom
he
was
to
draw
for
his
very
considerable
allowance
;
and
if
by
any
chance
he
found
himself
in
a
scrape
,
no
matter
of
what
kind
,
he
was
to
be
sure
to
write
to
his
grandfather
,
who
would
certainly
get
him
out
of
it
.
"
Your
departure
is
sudden
,
"
said
the
Princess
Lucretia
in
a
low
deep
tone
to
Sidonia
who
was
sitting
by
her
side
and
screened
from
general
observation
by
the
waltzers
who
whirled
by
.
"
Departures
should
be
sudden
.
"
"
I
do
not
like
departures
,
"
said
the
Princess
.
"
Nor
did
the
Queen
of
Sheba
when
she
quitted
Solomon
.
You
know
what
she
did
?
"
"
Tell
me
.
"
"
She
wept
very
much
,
and
let
one
of
the
King
's
birds
fly
into
the
garden
.
'
You
are
freed
from
your
cage
,
'
she
said
;
'
but
I
am
going
back
to
mine
.
'
"
"
But
you
never
weep
,
"
said
the
Princess
.
"
Never
.
"
"
And
are
always
free
?
"
"
So
are
men
in
the
Desart
.
"
"
But
your
life
is
not
a
Desart
.
"
"
It
at
least
resembles
the
Desart
in
one
respect
—
it
is
useless
.
"
"
The
only
useless
life
is
woman
's
.
"
"
Yet
there
have
been
heroines
,
"
said
Sidonia
.
"
The
Queen
of
Sheba
,
"
said
the
Princess
smiling
.
"
A
favourite
of
mine
,
"
said
Sidonia
.
"
And
why
was
she
a
favourite
of
yours
?
"
rather
eagerly
inquired
Lucretia
.
"
Because
she
thought
deeply
,
talked
finely
,
and
moved
gracefully
.
"
"
And
yet
might
be
a
very
unfeeling
dame
at
the
same
time
,
"
said
the
Princess
.
"
I
never
thought
of
that
,
"
said
Sidonia
.
"
The
heart
apparently
does
not
reckon
in
your
philosophy
.
"
"
What
we
call
the
heart
,
"
said
Sidonia
,
"
is
a
nervous
sensation
like
shyness
which
gradually
disappears
in
society
.
It
is
fervent
in
the
nursery
,
strong
in
the
domestic
circle
,
tumultuous
at
school
.
The
affections
are
the
children
of
ignorance
;
when
the
horizon
of
our
experience
expands
,
and
models
multiply
,
love
and
admiration
imperceptibly
vanish
.
"
"
I
fear
the
horizon
of
your
experience
has
very
greatly
expanded
.
With
your
opinions
,
what
charm
can
there
be
in
life
?
"
"
The
sense
of
existence
.
"
"
So
Sidonia
is
off
to-morrow
,
Monmouth
,
"
said
Lord
Eskdale
.
"
Hah
!
"
said
the
Marquess
.
"
I
must
get
him
to
breakfast
with
me
before
he
goes
.
"
The
party
broke
up
.
Coningsby
who
had
heard
Lord
Eskdale
announce
Sidonia
's
departure
lingered
to
express
his
regret
and
say
,
farewell
.
"
I
cannot
sleep
,
"
said
Sidonia
;
"
and
I
never
smoke
in
Europe
.
If
you
are
not
stiff
with
your
wounds
,
come
to
my
rooms
.
"
This
invitation
was
very
willingly
accepted
.
"
I
am
going
to
Cambridge
in
a
week
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
I
was
almost
in
hopes
you
might
have
remained
as
long
.
"
"
I
also
;
but
my
letters
of
this
morning
demand
me
.
If
it
had
not
been
for
our
chase
,
I
should
have
quitted
immediately
.
The
minister
cannot
pay
the
interest
on
the
national
debt
—
not
an
unprecedented
circumstance
,
and
has
applied
to
us
.
I
never
permit
any
business
of
state
to
be
transacted
without
my
personal
interposition
;
and
so
I
must
go
up
to
town
immediately
.
"
"
Suppose
you
do
n't
pay
it
,
"
said
Coningsby
,
smiling
.
"
If
I
followed
my
own
impulse
,
I
would
remain
here
,
"
said
Sidonia
.
"
Can
anything
be
more
absurd
than
that
a
nation
should
apply
to
an
individual
to
maintain
its
credit
,
and
with
its
credit
,
its
existence
as
an
empire
and
its
comfort
as
a
people
;
and
that
individual
one
to
whom
its
laws
deny
the
proudest
rights
of
citizenship
,
the
privilege
of
sitting
in
its
senate
and
of
holding
land
;
for
though
I
have
been
rash
enough
to
buy
several
estates
,
my
own
opinion
is
that
by
the
existing
law
of
England
,
an
Englishman
of
Hebrew
faith
cannot
possess
the
soil
.
"
"
But
surely
it
would
be
easy
to
repeal
a
law
so
illiberal
—
"
"
Oh
!
as
for
illiberality
I
have
no
objection
to
it
if
it
be
an
element
of
power
.
Eschew
political
sentimentalism
.
What
I
contend
is
that
if
you
permit
men
to
accumulate
property
,
and
they
use
that
permission
to
a
great
extent
,
power
is
inseparable
from
that
property
,
and
it
is
in
the
last
degree
impolitic
to
make
it
the
interest
of
any
powerful
class
to
oppose
the
institutions
under
which
they
live
.
The
Jews
,
for
example
,
independent
of
the
capital
qualities
for
citizenship
which
they
possess
in
their
industry
,
temperance
,
and
energy
and
vivacity
of
mind
,
are
a
race
essentially
monarchical
,
deeply
religious
,
and
shrinking
themselves
from
converts
as
from
a
calamity
,
are
ever
anxious
to
see
the
religious
systems
of
the
countries
in
which
they
live
,
flourish
;
yet
since
your
society
has
become
agitated
in
England
and
powerful
combinations
menace
your
institutions
,
you
find
the
once
loyal
Hebrew
invariably
arrayed
in
the
same
ranks
as
the
leveller
and
the
latitudinarian
,
and
prepared
to
support
the
policy
which
may
even
endanger
his
life
and
property
,
rather
than
tamely
continue
under
a
system
which
seeks
to
degrade
him
.
The
Tories
lose
an
important
election
at
a
critical
moment
;
'
tis
the
Jews
come
forward
to
vote
against
them
.
The
Church
is
alarmed
at
the
scheme
of
a
latitudinarian
university
,
and
learns
with
relief
that
funds
are
not
forthcoming
for
its
establishment
;
a
Jew
immediately
advances
and
endows
it
.
Yet
the
Jews
,
Coningsby
,
are
essentially
Tories
.
Toryism
indeed
is
but
copied
from
the
mighty
prototype
which
has
fashioned
Europe
.
And
every
generation
they
must
become
more
powerful
and
more
dangerous
to
the
society
which
is
hostile
to
them
.
Do
you
think
that
the
quiet
humdrum
persecution
of
a
decorous
representative
of
an
English
university
can
crush
those
who
have
successively
baffled
the
Pharoahs
,
Nebuchadnezzar
,
Rome
,
and
the
Feudal
ages
?
The
fact
is
you
cannot
destroy
a
pure
race
of
the
Caucasian
organization
.
It
is
a
physiological
fact
;
a
simple
law
of
nature
,
which
has
baffled
Egyptian
and
Assyrian
Kings
,
Roman
Emperors
,
and
Christian
Inquisitors
.
No
penal
laws
,
no
physical
tortures
,
can
effect
that
a
superior
race
should
be
absorbed
in
an
inferior
,
or
be
destroyed
by
it
.
The
mixed
persecuting
races
disappear
;
the
pure
persecuted
race
remains
.
And
at
this
moment
,
in
spite
of
centuries
,
of
tens
of
centuries
,
of
degradation
,
the
Jewish
mind
exercises
a
vast
influence
on
the
affairs
of
Europe
.
I
speak
not
of
their
laws
,
which
you
still
obey
;
of
their
literature
,
with
which
your
minds
are
saturated
;
but
of
the
living
Hebrew
intellect
.
"
You
never
observe
a
great
intellectual
movement
in
Europe
in
which
the
Jews
do
not
greatly
participate
.
The
first
Jesuits
were
Jews
:
that
mysterious
Russian
Diplomacy
which
so
alarms
Western
Europe
is
organized
and
principally
carried
on
by
Jews
;
that
mighty
revolution
which
is
at
this
moment
preparing
in
Germany
,
and
which
will
be
in
fact
a
second
and
greater
Reformation
,
and
of
which
so
little
is
as
yet
known
in
England
,
is
entirely
developing
under
the
auspices
of
Jews
,
who
almost
monopolise
the
professorial
chairs
of
Germany
.
Neander
,
the
founder
of
Spiritual
Christianity
,
and
who
is
Regius
Professor
of
Divinity
in
the
University
of
Berlin
,
is
a
Jew
.
Benary
,
equally
famous
,
and
in
the
same
University
,
is
a
Jew
.
Wehl
,
the
Arabic
Professor
of
Heidelberg
,
is
a
Jew
.
Years
ago
,
when
I
was
in
Palestine
,
I
met
a
German
student
who
was
accumulating
materials
for
the
History
of
Christianity
,
and
studying
the
genius
of
the
place
;
a
modest
and
learned
man
.
It
was
Wehl
;
then
unknown
,
since
become
the
first
Arabic
scholar
of
the
day
,
and
the
author
of
the
life
of
Mahomet
.
But
for
the
German
professors
of
this
race
,
their
name
is
Legion
.
I
think
there
are
more
than
ten
at
Berlin
alone
.
"
I
told
you
just
now
that
I
was
going
up
to
town
to-morrow
,
because
I
always
made
it
a
rule
to
interpose
when
affairs
of
State
were
on
the
carpet
.
Otherwise
,
I
never
interfere
.
I
hear
of
peace
and
war
in
newspapers
,
but
I
am
never
alarmed
,
except
when
I
am
informed
that
the
Sovereigns
want
treasure
;
then
I
know
that
monarchs
are
serious
.
"
A
few
years
back
we
were
applied
to
by
Russia
.
Now
there
has
been
no
friendship
between
the
Court
of
St.
Petersburgh
and
my
family
.
It
has
Dutch
connexions
which
have
generally
supplied
it
,
and
our
representations
in
favour
of
the
Polish
Hebrews
,
a
numerous
race
,
but
the
most
suffering
and
degraded
of
all
the
tribes
,
has
not
been
very
agreeable
to
the
Czar
.
However
circumstances
drew
to
an
approximation
between
the
Romanoffs
and
the
Sidonias
.
I
resolved
to
go
myself
to
St.
Petersburgh
.
I
had
on
my
arrival
an
interview
with
the
Russian
Minister
of
Finance
,
Count
Cancrin
;
I
beheld
the
son
of
a
Lithuanian
Jew
.
The
loan
was
connected
with
the
affairs
of
Spain
;
I
resolved
on
repairing
to
Spain
from
Russia
.
I
travelled
without
intermission
.
I
had
an
audience
immediately
on
my
arrival
with
the
Spanish
Minister
,
Senor
Mendizabel
;
I
beheld
one
like
myself
,
the
son
of
a
Nuovo
Christiano
,
a
Jew
of
Arragon
.
In
consequence
of
what
transpired
at
Madrid
,
I
went
straight
to
Paris
to
consult
the
President
of
the
French
Council
;
I
beheld
the
son
of
a
French
Jew
,
a
hero
,
an
imperial
marshal
,
and
very
properly
so
,
for
who
should
be
military
heroes
if
not
those
who
worship
the
Lord
of
Hosts
?
"
"
And
is
Soult
a
Hebrew
!
"
"
Yes
,
and
several
of
the
French
Marshals
,
and
the
most
famous
;
Massena
for
example
;
his
real
name
was
Manasseh
:
but
to
my
anecdote
.
The
consequence
of
our
consultations
was
that
some
Northern
power
should
be
applied
to
in
a
friendly
and
mediative
capacity
.
We
fixed
on
Prussia
,
and
the
President
of
the
Council
made
an
application
to
the
Prussian
Minister
,
who
attended
a
few
days
after
our
conference
.
Count
Arnim
entered
the
cabinet
,
and
I
beheld
a
Prussian
Jew
.
So
you
see
,
my
dear
Coningsby
,
that
the
world
is
governed
by
very
different
personages
to
what
is
imagined
by
those
who
are
not
behind
the
scenes
.
"
"
You
startle
,
and
deeply
interest
me
.
"
"
You
must
study
physiology
,
my
dear
child
.
Pure
races
of
Caucasus
may
be
persecuted
,
but
they
cannot
be
despised
,
except
by
the
brutal
ignorance
of
some
mongrel
breed
,
that
brandishes
faggots
and
howls
exterminations
,
but
is
itself
exterminated
without
persecutions
by
that
irresistible
law
of
nature
which
is
fatal
to
curs
.
"
"
But
I
come
also
from
Caucasus
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
Verily
;
and
thank
your
Creator
for
such
a
destiny
:
and
your
race
is
sufficiently
pure
.
You
come
from
the
shores
of
the
Northern
Sea
,
land
of
the
blue
eye
,
and
the
golden
hair
,
and
the
frank
brow
;
'
tis
a
famous
breed
,
with
whom
we
Arabs
have
contended
long
;
from
whom
we
have
much
suffered
;
but
these
Goths
,
and
Saxons
,
and
Normans
,
were
doubtless
great
men
.
"
"
But
so
favoured
by
Nature
,
why
has
not
your
race
produced
great
poets
,
great
orators
,
great
writers
?
"
"
Favoured
by
Nature
and
by
Nature
's
God
we
produced
the
lyre
of
David
;
we
gave
you
Isaiah
and
Ezekiel
;
they
are
our
Olynthians
,
our
Phillippics
.
Favoured
by
Nature
we
still
remain
:
but
in
exact
proportion
as
we
have
been
favoured
by
Nature
we
have
been
persecuted
by
Man
.
After
a
thousand
struggles
;
after
acts
of
heroic
courage
that
Rome
has
never
equalled
;
deeds
of
divine
patriotism
that
Athens
,
and
Sparta
,
and
Carthage
have
never
excelled
;
we
have
endured
fifteen
hundred
years
of
supernatural
slavery
,
during
which
,
every
device
that
can
degrade
or
destroy
man
has
been
the
destiny
that
we
have
sustained
and
baffled
.
The
Hebrew
child
has
entered
adolescence
only
to
learn
that
he
was
the
Pariah
of
that
ungrateful
Europe
that
owes
to
him
the
best
part
of
its
laws
a
fine
portion
of
its
literature
,
all
its
religion
.
Great
poets
require
a
public
;
we
have
been
content
with
the
immortal
melodies
that
we
sung
more
than
two
thousand
years
ago
by
the
waters
of
Babylon
and
wept
.
They
record
our
triumphs
;
they
solace
our
affliction
.
Great
orators
are
the
creatures
of
popular
assemblies
;
we
were
permitted
only
by
stealth
to
meet
even
in
our
temples
.
And
as
for
great
writers
the
catalogue
is
not
blank
.
What
are
all
the
school-men
,
Aquinas
himself
,
to
Maimonides
;
and
as
for
modern
philosophy
,
all
springs
from
Spinoza
.
"
But
the
passionate
and
creative
genius
that
is
the
nearest
link
to
divinity
,
and
which
no
human
tyranny
can
destroy
,
though
it
can
divert
it
;
that
should
have
stirred
the
hearts
of
nations
by
its
inspired
sympathy
,
or
governed
senates
by
its
burning
eloquence
,
has
found
a
medium
for
its
expression
,
to
which
,
in
spite
of
your
prejudices
and
your
evil
passions
,
you
have
been
obliged
to
bow
.
The
ear
,
the
voice
,
the
fancy
teeming
with
combinations
,
the
imagination
fervent
with
picture
and
emotion
,
that
came
from
Caucasus
and
which
we
have
preserved
unpolluted
,
have
endowed
us
with
almost
the
exclusive
privilege
of
Music
;
that
science
of
harmonious
sounds
which
the
ancients
recognised
as
most
divine
,
and
deified
in
the
person
of
their
most
beautiful
creation
.
I
speak
not
of
the
past
,
though
were
I
to
enter
into
the
history
of
the
lords
of
melody
,
you
would
find
it
the
annals
of
Hebrew
genius
.
But
at
this
moment
even
,
musical
Europe
is
ours
.
There
is
not
a
company
of
singers
,
not
an
orchestra
in
a
single
capital
,
that
are
not
crowded
with
our
children
under
the
feigned
names
which
they
adopt
to
conciliate
the
dark
aversion
which
your
posterity
will
some
day
disclaim
with
shame
and
disgust
.
Almost
every
great
composer
,
skilled
musician
,
almost
every
voice
that
ravishes
you
with
its
transporting
strains
,
spring
from
our
tribes
.
The
catalogue
is
too
vast
to
enumerate
;
too
illustrious
to
dwell
for
a
moment
on
secondary
names
,
however
eminent
.
Enough
for
us
that
the
three
great
creative
minds
to
whose
exquisite
inventions
all
nations
at
this
moment
yield
;
Rossini
,
Meyerbeer
,
Mendelsohn
;
are
of
Hebrew
race
:
and
little
do
your
men
of
fashion
,
your
'
muscadins
'
of
Paris
and
your
dandies
of
London
,
as
they
thrill
into
raptures
at
the
notes
of
a
Pasta
or
a
Grisi
,
little
do
they
suspect
that
they
are
offering
their
homage
to
the
sweet
singers
of
Israel
!
"
CHAPTER
XVI
.
It
was
the
noon
of
the
day
on
which
Sidonia
was
to
leave
the
Castle
.
The
wind
was
high
;
the
vast
white
clouds
scudded
over
the
blue
heaven
;
the
leaves
yet
green
,
and
tender
branches
snapped
like
glass
,
were
whirled
in
eddies
from
the
trees
;
the
grassy
sward
undulated
like
the
ocean
with
a
thousand
tints
and
shadows
.
From
the
window
of
the
music-room
Lucretia
Colonna
gazed
on
the
turbulent
sky
.
The
heaven
of
her
heart
too
was
disturbed
.
She
turned
from
the
agitated
external
world
to
ponder
over
her
inward
emotion
.
She
uttered
a
deep
sigh
.
Slowly
she
moved
towards
her
harp
;
wildly
,
almost
unconsciously
,
she
touched
with
one
hand
its
strings
,
while
her
eyes
were
fixed
on
the
ground
.
An
imperfect
melody
resounded
;
yet
plaintive
and
passionate
.
It
seemed
to
attract
her
soul
.
She
raised
her
head
,
and
then
touching
the
strings
with
both
her
hands
,
she
poured
forth
tones
of
deep
,
yet
thrilling
power
.
"
I
am
a
stranger
in
the
halls
of
a
stranger
!
Ah
!
whither
shall
I
flee
?
"
To
the
castle
of
my
fathers
in
the
green
mountains
;
to
the
palace
of
my
fathers
in
the
ancient
city
?
"
There
is
no
flag
on
the
castle
of
my
fathers
in
the
green
mountains
;
silent
is
the
palace
of
my
fathers
in
the
ancient
city
.
"
Is
there
no
home
for
the
homeless
;
can
the
unloved
never
find
love
?
"
Ah
!
thou
fliest
away
fleet
cloud
:
—
he
will
leave
us
swifter
than
thee
!
Alas
!
cutting
wind
,
thy
breath
is
not
as
cold
as
his
heart
!
"
I
am
a
stranger
in
the
halls
of
the
stranger
!
Ah
!
whither
shall
I
flee
?
"
The
