The governor turned towards his guests.
“You have already commenced a system of compulsory education in Germany,” said he; “but when you succeed in establishing a state church, and have a catechism of state religion, then will the new German Empire, like our czar, be able to educate subjects who must obey him blindly.”
He now turned again to the children.
“Is there a pope in Rome?”
The child who was questioned looked at the teacher, who had become as pale as death.
“Answer me! Is there a pope in Rome?” repeated the governor.
“No; there is only one emperor, who is at the same time the pope of all the Russians,” replied the child.
“Schoolmaster, I am satisfied with you,” said Rasumowski approvingly.
“You know that the only things which every good Russian must do is to work diligently, to pay taxes punctually, and to blindly obey the emperor. These three things you must impress upon the minds of the children!”
The governor was about to leave the schoolroom, when he suddenly stopped, and his face became crimson with anger. He had espied the portrait of the emperor, which hung in a gilt frame on the wall. The glass that covered it was broken, and it was soiled with a few ink-stains.