“Whatever you choose, my lord,” I replied.
Many others had entered with the speaker, and shouted, “Long live my lord the Fox!” They were right, for never had I beheld so affable a prince.
“My friends,” he said, “nothing in this office is changed; only one additional animal appears.” (Cheers.)
The Fox, taking up the abandoned pen of the Ape, sat down to write his first proclamation.
“Inhabitants of the Jardin des Plantes, the editors having been removed, all cause for disorder has ceased.”
“Read and sign this document,” said he to the ex-editors.
Whereupon the Cock replied, “Sir, I shall not dishonour myself by such a treacherous act.”
He then proceeded to draw up another proclamation.
“Citizens, while you were asleep you were being betrayed, but friends were watching for you. Too long had we bowed our heads without murmuring; the time had come for us to assert our dignity. The traitors who governed and sold you breathe no more! The records of our nation will teach the world how the animal kingdom redresses its wrongs. During this hour justice has been executed, the work is finished, the culprits have paid with their lives the penalty of their guilt—they have been hanged!
“_N.B._—Out of sacred regard for our ancestors who suffered the extreme penalty of the law, they have been hanged on new gibbets.
The Cock listened unmoved to the reading of this second document.
“But,” said the Monkey, “my lord, we are not hanged.”
“Are you really thinking of hanging us?” cried the Parroquet, weeping at the prospect. { 232}
“No,” replied the Fox, “it is a proceeding I do not care to carry out, only you must appear to have been hanged.”
The shouts of the populace outside could be plainly heard, demanding the heads of the editors.
“Patience,” replied the Fox, addressing the people from time to time—“patience, if you are wise. You shall have some medals to commemorate this event. [_Aside._] To refuse nothing, and to give nothing, is the way to govern wisely and well.”
The shouts, “Death to the tyrants!” “Death to the editors!” redoubled.
“You hear, gentlemen,” said the Fox. “It is necessary to do something for the people; yet,” he added, “if you can find means to deceive them by preserving your lives, you may do so.”