"You are not a Socialist, Mr. Wondergood? Ah, do not be ashamed. We are all Socialists now. We are all on the side of the hungry: the more satisfied they will be, the more they will fear _death_. You understand?"
He flung out his arms and drew them in again, like a net filled with fish and said:
"We are fishermen, Mr. Wondergood, humble fishermen!... And tell me: do you regard the desire for _liberty_ as a virtue or a vice?"
"The entire civilized world regards the desire for liberty as a virtue," I replied angrily.
"I expected no other reply from a citizen of the United States. But don't you personally believe that he who will give man limitless _freedom_ will also bring him _death_? _Death_ alone releases all earthly ties. And don't you regard the words 'freedom' and 'death' as synonymous?"
"Of political liberty? Oh, we have no objection to that. You can have as much as you please of that! Of course, provided men themselves ask for it. Are you sure they really want it? If they do, please help yourself! It is all nonsense and calumny to say that the Holy See is in favor of reaction.... I had the honor to be present on the balcony of the Vatican when His Holiness blessed the first French aëroplane that appeared over Rome, and the next Pope, I am sure, will gladly bless the barricades. The time of Galileo has passed, Mr. Wondergood, and we all know now that the earth does move!"
He drew a circle in the air with his finger, indicating the revolution of the earth.
"You must permit me to think over your proposal, Your Eminence."
Cardinal X. jumped up from his chair and gently touched my shoulder with two of his aristocratic fingers:
"Oh, I am not hurrying you, my good Mr. Wondergood. It was you who were hurrying me. I am even convinced that you will at first refuse me, but when, after some little experience, you will have realized the real _needs_ of man.... I, too, love man, Mr. Wondergood, to be sure, not so passionately and...."
He departed with the same grimaces, bearing himself with dignity and dispensing blessings all about him. I saw him again through the window at the entrance of the palace, while the coachman was bringing up the carriage: he was speaking into the ear of one of his abbés, whose face resembled a black plate. The Cardinal's countenance no longer reminded me of a monkey: it was rather the face of a shaven, hungry, tired lion. This able actor needed no dressing room for his make-up! Behind him stood a tall lackey, all dressed in black, reminding one of an English baronet. Whenever His Eminence turned about in his direction, he would respectfully lift his faded silk hat.