192 THE HISTORY OR TnE ORDER OR [book iv.

with a peculiarity of esteem; as splendid examples ofwliat mankind produces of most generous, most noble.Nor mean I aristocratic distinctions—and doubtfulsuch were at that time — but the true nobility ofnature. Nor is that wondrous, if antiquity be right thatthey are of Norman blood, like our founder and his firstknights ; and that the Normans' were far superior toall others of the human race.” And he might haveadvanced to still more exciting sentiments, were itnot for an elderly bailiff, who seemed to be of themajority : “ Neither any one who has read his Bosiocan fail to know that inflexible neutrality betweenChristians is the very basis of our institution ; and soI maintain we are bound to it, and that it is idle tointermeddle with what is not oru’ own ; and we shouldoccupy ourselves simply with what strictly belongsto us, the state of our finances, which are in awretched condition, and will quickly destroy usunless we find some remedy.”—“ But that is notmerely hard, but quite impossible,” cried another,

“ for every day our expenditure goes on increasing,and our means to meet it frightfully lessening.”— An da fourth: “That being an impossibility, then is ituseless to debate upon it; and, therefore, instead ofvain labour to our lungs, I propose we retire.”—Sothe assembly dissolved itself, like so many others, ausual daily event during months. On another