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Chapter 4

           But,again,Imustrepeat,thatisnotthequestion.”

           “Whatisitthen,forgoodness’sake?”

           “Heisboringus!”

           “Thequestionisconnectedwiththefollowinganecdoteofpasttimes;forIamobligedtorelateastory.Inourtimes,andinourcountry,whichIhopeyouloveasmuchasIdo,forasfarasIamconcerned,Iamreadytoshedthelastdropofmyblood...

           “Goon!Goon!”

           “Inourdearcountry,asindeedinthewholeofEurope,afaminevisitshumanityaboutfourtimesacentury,asfarasIcanremember;onceineverytwenty-fiveyears.Iwon’tsweartothisbeingtheexactfigure,butanyhowtheyhavebecomecomparativelyrare.”

           “Comparativelytowhat?”

           “Tothetwelfthcentury,andthoseimmediatelyprecedingandfollowingit.Wearetoldbyhistoriansthatwidespreadfaminesoccurredinthosedayseverytwoorthreeyears,andsuchwastheconditionofthingsthatmenactuallyhadrecoursetocannibalism,insecret,ofcourse.Oneofthesecannibals,whohadreachedagoodage,declaredofhisownfreewillthatduringthecourseofhislongandmiserablelifehehadpersonallykilledandeaten,inthemostprofoundsecrecy,sixtymonks,nottomentionseveralchildren;thenumberofthelatterhethoughtwasaboutsix,aninsignificanttotalwhencomparedwiththeenormousmassofecclesiasticsconsumedbyhim.Astoadults,laymenthatistosay,hehadnevertouchedthem.”

           Thepresidentjoinedinthegeneraloutcry.

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