“And the gyrations of the patriots, of which the judge has just now spoken,” added the brigadier, “are much the same as the eccentric movements of the comets that embellish the solar system, without deranging it by their uncertain courses.”
“No, sir, we should be poorly off, indeed, if we had but ONE public opinion,” resumed the judge. “Ecod, I do not know what would become of the most patriotic patriots in such a dilemma!”
“Pray, sir, let me ask, as you draw for places, if you have as many places as there are citizens?”
“Certainly, sir. Our places are divided, firstly, into the two great subdivisions of the ‘inner’ and the ‘outer.’ Those who toe the mark on the most popular line occupy the former, and those who toe the mark on the least popular line take all the rest, as a matter of course. The first, however, it is necessary to explain, are the only places worth having. As great care is had to keep the community pretty nearly equally divided—”
“Excuse the interruption—but in what manner is this effected?”
“Why, as only a certain number can toe the mark, we count all those who are not successful in getting up to the line, as outcasts; and, after fruitlessly hanging about our skirts for a time, they invariably go over to the other line; since it is better to be first in a village than second in Rome. We thus keep up something like an equilibrium in the state, which, as you must know, is necessary to liberty. The minority take the outer places, and all the inner are left to the majority. Then comes another subdivision of the places; that is to say, one division is formed of the honorary, and another of the profitable places. The honorary, or about nine-tenths of all the inner places, are divided, with great impartiality, among the mass of those who have toed the mark on the strongest side, and who usually are satisfied with the glory of the victory. The names of the remainder are put into the wheels to be drawn for against the prizes, on the rotatory principle.”
“And the patriots, sir;—are they included in this chance medley?”
“Far from it. As a reward for their dangers, they have a little wheel to themselves, although they, also, are compelled to submit to the rotatory principle. Their cases differ from those of the others, merely in the fact that they always get something.”
I would gladly have pursued the conversation, which was opening a flood of light upon my political understanding; but just then, a fellow with the air of a footman entered, carrying a packet tied to the end of his cauda. Turning round, he presented his burden, with profound respect, and withdrew. I found that the packet contained three notes with the following addresses:
“To His Royal Highness Bob, Prince of Wales, etc., etc., etc.”