I will devote the following pages to the dialogue and give the exact terms in which it was conducted.
"In what social State are we at the present time, my child?"
"We are a Republic, monsieur."
"Can you explain to me what a Republic is?"
"It is the sharing of rights equally between every class of people of which the nation is composed, without distinction of rank or birth or circumstances."
We all stared at one another, amazed at this beginning; the answers had come without any hesitation and as though she had learnt them beforehand. I turned to her mother.
"Shall we proceed any further, madame?" I asked.
She was almost struck dumb with astonishment.
"Oh! Heavens!" she said, "I am afraid it will exhaust the poor child too much to answer such questions as those; they are far beyond the range of her age and understanding. The way she answers them," added the mother, "terrifies me."
I turned again to the child.