CHAPTER LIII
THE CLERGY, THE FORESTS, LIBERTY
The first law of every being, is to preserve itself and live. You sow hemlock, and expect to see ears of corn ripen.—Macchiavelli.
The great personage continued. One could see that he knew his subject. He proceeded to expound the following great truths with a soft and tempered eloquence with which Julien was inordinately delighted:—
"1. England has not a guinea to help us with; economy and Hume are the fashion there. Even the saints will not give us any money, and M. Brougham will make fun of us.
"2. The impossibility of getting the kings of Europe to embark on more than two campaigns without English gold; two campaigns will not be enough to dispose of the middle classes.
"3. The necessity of forming an armed party in France. Without this, the monarchical principle in Europe will not risk even two campaigns.
"The fourth point which I venture to suggest to you, as self-evident, is this:
"The impossibility of forming an armed party in France without the clergy. I am bold enough to tell you this because I will prove it to you, gentlemen. You must make every sacrifice for the clergy.
"Firstly, because as it is occupied with its mission by day and by night, and guided by highly capable men established far from these storms at three hundred leagues from your frontiers"
"Ah, Rome, Rome!" exclaimed the master of the house.
"Yes, monsieur, Rome," replied the Cardinal haughtily. "Whatever more or less ingenious jokes may have been the
