"Well, it seems they have found out something; that the 'Supreme Being' was a Moderate, a Rolandist, and, in short, a Girondin."
"No jesting on sacred subjects, Lorin; you know I do not like it."
"What would you have, my boy? we must keep up with the age. I too like the ancient God well enough; first, because I was accustomed to him. As for the 'Supreme Being,' it appears he really has faults, and since he has been above yonder, everything has been playing at cross-purposes; at all events, our legislators have decreed his downfall."
Maurice shrugged his shoulders.
"Shrug your shoulders as much as you please," said Lorin; "but now we are going to worship the 'Goddess Reason.'"
"And are you engaged in all these masquerades?"
"Ah! mon ami, if you knew the Goddess Reason as I know her, you would be one of her warmest partisans. Listen; I wish you to know her, and will present you to her."
"A truce to all this folly. I am out of spirits, you well know."
"The very thing, then; she will enliven you; she is a nice girl. Ah! but you know the austere goddess whom the Parisians wish to crown with laurels, and drive about in a gilded paper-car! It is—guess."
"How can I guess?"