When the
house of a notary is on fire you will see the most immovable
and indifferent of shopkeepers running like a cat on the
tiles, to put out the fire and save his own papers. On the
same principle, a Government will always be served with zeal
in proportion to the interest its servants have in its
security."
"Of course," said the Prelate,
"I understand your argument perfectly. Man requires some
object in life. A hundred and twenty scudi a year is not an
unpleasant bed to lie upon after a term of military service.
At this price we should not want candidates. Even the middle
class would solicit employment in the military as much as it
now does the civil service of the state; and we should be
able to pick and choose our men. What frightens me in the
matter is the expense."
"Ah! Monsignore, you know a really good article is never to
be had cheap. The Pontifical Government has 15,000 soldiers
for L400,000. France would pay half as much again for them:
but then she would have the value of the extra cost. The men
who have completed three or four terms of service, are those
who cost the most money; and yet there is an economy in
keeping them, because every such man is worth three
conscripts. Do you then, or do you not, wish to create a
national force? Have you made up your mind on the subject?
If you do wish for it, you must pay for it, and make the
sacrifices necessary to obtain it.
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