"Father," cried Magis, "notice how each one advances with his nose
pointed towards the centre of gravity of that young damsel now that the
centre is covered by a garment. The sphere inspires the meditations
of geometers by the number of its properties. When it proceeds from a
physical and living nature it acquires new qualities, and in order that
the interest of that figure might be fully revealed to the penguins it
was necessary that, ceasing to see it distinctly with their eyes, they
should be led to represent it to themselves in their minds. I myself
feel at this moment irresistibly attracted towards that penguin. Whether
it be because her skirt gives more importance to her hips, and that in
its simple magnificence it invests them with a synthetic and general
character and allows only the pure idea, the divine principle, of them
to be seen, whether this be the cause I cannot say, but I feel that if
I embraced her I would hold in my hands the heaven of human pleasure. It
is certain that modesty communicates an invincible attraction to women.
My uneasiness is so great that it would be vain for me to try to conceal
it."

He spoke, and, gathering up his habit, he rushed among the crowd of
penguins, pushing, jostling, trampling, and crushing, until he reached
the daughter of Alca, whom he seized and suddenly carried in his arms
into a cave that had been hollowed out by the sea.

Then the penguins felt as if the sun had gone out. And the holy Mael
knew that the Devil had taken the features of the monk, Magis, in order
that he might give clothes to the daughter of Alca. He was troubled in
spirit, and his soul was sad. As with slow steps he went towards his
hermitage he saw the little penguins of six and seven years of age
tightening their waists with belts made of sea-weed and walking along