The demolition of D, the devout, only whets X’s appetite; and heedless of his coming doom, M, the moderate, enters the lists. As a specimen of Papal mild facetiousness, I quote the commencement of the second dialogue.
M. “Great news! a great book!”
X. “Where from?”
M. “From Paris.”
X. “A dapper-dandy then, I suppose?”
M. “No, a political pamphlet.”
X. “Well, that is the same as a political dandy.”
M. “A pamphlet explaining the policy of the Moderates.”
X. “You mean, of the Moderate intellects?”
M. “No, I mean the policy of the Moderates, a policy of compromise, between the Holy Father and, and—”