chaste modesty of my soul, and without exposing to profanation the
sacred mysteries, I'll show you God overawing human reason, I'll
show you it by the philosophy of pagans, and by the tittle-tattle of
ungodly persons. Yes, sir, I'll make you avow that you recognise
Him, against your own free will. Much as you want to pretend He does
not exist you cannot but agree that, if a certain order prevails in
this world, such order is divine--flows out of the spring and
fountain of all order."

"I agree," replied M. d'Anquetil, reclining in his armchair and
fondling his finely shaped calves.

"Therefore, take care," said my good tutor. "When you say that God
does not exist what else are you doing but linking thought,
directing reason, and manifesting in your innermost soul, the
principle of all thought, and all reason, which is God? Is it
possible only to attempt to establish that He is not, without
illuminating, by the most paltry reasoning, which still is
reasoning, some remains of the harmony He has established in the
universe?"

"Abbe," replied M. d'Anquetil, "you are a humorous sophist. It is
well known in our days that this world is the work of chance, and it
is superfluous to speak of a providence, since natural philosophers
have discovered, by means of their telescopes, that winged frogs are
living on the moon."

"Well, sir," replied my good master, "I am in no way angry that
winged frogs are living on the moon; such kind of marsh-birds are
very worthy inhabitants of a world which has not been sanctified by