50
CROTCHET CASTLE.
MR. SKIONAR.
What is civilization?
MR. MAC QUEDY.
It is just respect for property. A state in which no man takes wrongfully what belongs to another, is a perfectly civilized state.
MR. SKIONAR.
Your friend's antiquaries must have lived in El Dorado, to have had an opportunity of being saturated with such a state.
MR. MAC QUEDY.
It is a question of degree. There is more respect for property here than in Angola.
MR. SKIONAR.
That depends on the light in which things are viewed.
Mr. Crotchet was rubbing his hands, in hopes of a fine discussion, when they came round to the side of the camp where the pic-
