"
"The people must have leaders," said Lord Valentine.
"And they have found them," said the delegate.
"When it comes to a push they will follow their nobility,"
said Lord Valentine.
"Will their nobility lead them?" said the other delegate.
"For my part I do not pretend to be a philosopher, and if I
saw a Simon de Montfort again I should be content to fight
under his banner."
"We have an aristocracy of wealth," said the delegate who had
chiefly spoken. "In a progressive civilization wealth is the
only means of class distinction: but a new disposition of
wealth may remove even this."
"Ah! you want to get at our estates," said Lord Valentine
smiling; "but the effort on your part may resolve society into
its original elements, and the old sources of distinction may
again develope themselves."
"Tall barons will not stand against Paixhans rockets," said
the delegate. "Modern science has vindicated the natural
equality of man."
"And I must say I am very sorry for it," said the other
delegate; "for human strength always seems to me the natural
process of settling affairs."
"I am not surprised at your opinion," said Lord Valentine,
turning to the delegate and smiling.
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