regard to these pink shells, how can you possibly create for them a
certain standard of value? It is merely agreement among yourselves that
fixes any value to them.'

'By no means! you are so rapid! Each shell is immediately convertible
into gold; of which metal, let me again remind you, we possess more than
any other nation; but which, indeed, we only keep as a sort of dress
coin, chiefly to indulge the prejudices of foreigners.'

'But,' said the perpetual Popanilla, 'suppose every man who held a shell
on the same day were to -- '

'My good friend! I really am the last person in the world to give
explanations. In Vraibleusia, we have so much to do that we have no
time to think; a habit which only becomes nations who are not employed.
You are now fast approaching the Great Shell Question; a question which,
I confess, affects the interests of every man in this island more than
any other; but of which, I must candidly own, every man in this island
is more ignorant than of any other. No one, however, can deny that the
system works well; and if anything at any time go wrong, why really Mr.
Secretary Periwinkle is a wonderful man, and our most eminent
conchologist. He, no doubt, will set it right; and if, by any chance,
things are past even his management, why then, I suppose, to use our
national motto, something will turn up.'

Here they arrived at the hotel. Having made every arrangement for the
comfort and convenience of the Fantaisian stranger, Popanilla's
conductor took his leave, previously informing him that his name was
Skindeep; that he was a member of one of the largest families in the
island; that, had he not been engaged to attend a lecture, he would have