The Emiral stood up.
“Not a word more, dear lady. I have the esteem, the confidence of the Republic. I will not betray it. And why should I betray it? I am loaded honours and dignities.”
“Allow me to tell you, my dear Emiral, that your honours and dignities are far from equalling what you deserve. If your services were properly rewarded, you would be Emiralissimo and Generalissimo, Commander-in-chief of the troops both on land and sea. The Republic is very ungrateful to you.”
“All governments are more or less ungrateful.”
“Yes, but the Republicans are jealous of you. That class of person is always afraid of his superiors. They cannot endure the Services. Everything that has to do with the navy and the army is odious to them. They are afraid of you.”
“That is possible.”
“They are wretches; they are ruining the country. Don’t you wish to save Penguinia?
“In what way?”
“By sweeping away all the rascals of the Republic, all the Republicans.”
“What a proposal to make to me, dear lady!”