"You need not feel ashamed, Mr. Wondergood: one should fear death. As
long as there is _death_...."
The features of the monkey's face suddenly contracted and in his eyes
there appeared horror and wrath: as if some one had seized him by the
back of his neck and thrust him into the darkness and terror of a
primeval forest. He _feared_ death and his terror was dark, evil and
boundless. I needed no words of explanation and no other evidence:
One look upon this distorted, befogged and confused _human_ face was
sufficient to compel reverence for the Great Irrational! And how weak
is _their_ steadiness: My Wondergood also grew pale and cringed...ah,
the rogue! He was _now_ seeking protection and help from Me!
"Will you have some wine, Your Eminence?"
But His Eminence was himself again. He curved his thin lips into a
smile and shook his head in the negative. And suddenly he broke out
again with surprising fury:
"And as long as there is death, the Church is unshakable! Let all
of you who seek to undermine her, tear her, and blow her up--you
cannot conquer her. And even if you should succeed in destroying
her, the first to perish beneath her ruins would be yourselves. Who
will then defend you against death? Who will give you sweet faith
in immortality, in eternal life, in everlasting bliss?... Believe
me, Mr. Wondergood, the world is not seeking your ratio. It is all a
misunderstanding!"
"But what does it seek, Your Eminence?"
"What does it want? _Mundus vult decipi_...you know our Latin? the
world wants to be fooled!"
And the old monkey again grew merry, begun to wink, to beam with
satisfaction, slapped his knee and burst into laughter. I also
laughed. The rascal was so funny!
"And is it you," said I, "who wants to fool it?"
The Cardinal again grew serious and replied sadly:
"The Holy See needs funds, Mr. Wondergood. The world, while it has
not grown rational, has become weaker in its faith and it is somewhat
difficult to manage it."
He signed and continued:
"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?"
"I speak of political liberty."
"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.