"I will be bold enough to say to Your Majesty that I am a representative of an old, democratic republic and...."
"Stop, Wondergood! Republic, democracy! That's nonsense. You know well enough yourself that a king is a necessity. You, in America, will have a king, too, some day. How can you get along without a king: who will be responsible for them before God? No, that's foolish."
This creature was actually getting ready to answer for the people before God! And he continued with the same calm audacity:
"The king can do everything. And what can a president do? Nothing. Do you understand, Wondergood--_Nothing!_ Why, then, do you want a president who can do nothing?"--he deigned to twist his lower lip into a sarcastic smile.--"It is all nonsense, invented by the newspapers. Would you, for example, take your president seriously, Mr. Wondergood?"
"Fi! Excuse me, Mr. Wondergood (he recalled my name with great difficulty) but what fool will pay any attention to the representatives of the people? Citizen A will pay heed to Citizen B and Citizen B will pay heed to Citizen A--is that not so? But who will compel their obedience if both of them are wise? No, I, too, have studied logic, Mr. Wondergood and you will permit me to indulge in a laugh!"
He laughed slightly and said with his usual gesture:
"Continue, Marquis.... No, let me do it. The King can do _everything_, Wondergood, you understand?"
"Ah, this fellow, too, speaks of law. Do you hear, Marquis? No, I really can't understand what you want this law for! That all may suffer equitably! However, if you are so keen on having law, law you shall have. But who will give it to you, if not I?"
"But the representatives of the people...."
The king directed his colorless eyes upon me, almost in despair:
"Ah, again citizen A and B! But can't you understand, dear Wondergood? What kind of a law is it if they themselves make it? What wise man will agree to obey it? No, that's nonsense. Is it possible that you yourself obey this law, Wondergood?"
"Not only I, Your Majesty, but the whole of America...."
"Pardon me, but I don't believe it. The whole of America! Well, in that case they simply don't understand what law is--do you hear, Marquis, the whole of America! But that's not the thing. I must return, Wondergood. You've heard what the poor devils write?"