His father in particular was immensely amused by the notion that he of all men should have an Anarchist for a son.

However, the General, in his rancorous moments, talked anarchically enough of blowing up a society which was so stupid as to let itself be led by half a dozen disreputable characters.

And, indeed, the investigating magistrate, who was gradually making a specialty of Anarchist affairs, proved the only one who opposed the young man, defending threatened civilisation and giving terrifying particulars concerning what he called the army of devastation and massacre.

The others, while partaking of some delicious duck's-liver _pate_, which the house-steward handed around, continued smiling.

There was so much misery, said they; one must take everything into account: things would surely end by righting themselves.