"
This time there was no smiling. The pugnacious-looking man spoke for
the rest when he said:
"We cannot allow such ideas to gain headway, Powart! Have you a
plan?"
"We must keep a close watch upon Calastia, and allow no one to leave
its borders. As for Ernol, I have concluded that the best thing will
be--turn him loose!"
They looked at him in consternation. He explained:
"I have been reading up the experience of the past few centuries in
such cases; and if there is one thing that stands out clearer than
any other it is this: the surest way to make the public sympathize
with a radical is to persecute him. But disregard him and ridicule
him, and his philosophy doesn't last long.
"Instead of trying to make an example of this chap, by severely
punishing him, we shall let him go. It may be that he will object to
this; he may have discovered the same truths I have been reading,
and would like nothing better than to become a 'martyr.' But we
shall force him out, if need be.
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