“Well, then, there I would be a Monarchist. I am nothing at heart. I am a man of action who needs money and complications in order to live. Do you know what name they have given me at the Lodge?”
“What?”
“Catiline. They have hit the nail on the head. I am a little Catiline. What an admirable chap was that Tribune of the people! Eh? I am very enthusiastic about him.”
“Then, Cicero would seem despicable to you.”
“Ah! absolutely despicable. Charlatan, pedant, coward ... in other words—he was a lawyer.”
“Listen,” said the Swiss. “They told me another and more serious thing: that you are the one who edits that newspaper, La Víbora. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Are you the author of those very violent satires?”
“Not the author; the inspirer. Catiline turned libeller?... It would be unworthy of him.”
“But don’t you realize that you are exposing yourself to a very serious danger?”