Page:Karel Čapek - The Absolute at Large (1927).djvu/178

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The Absolute at Large

formed miracles for us. For He is our Father," added the General, crossing himself and bowing low.

The German Imperial Chancellor approached, and after listening for a while in silence, he said: "Yes, He knows just how to appeal to the people. In every case, He adopts the mentality of the country He is in. Considering His age, He is . . . hm . . . astoundingly elastic. We notice it in the countries just around us. In Czechoslovakia, for instance, He behaves like a colossal individualist. Everyone there has his own Absolute all to himself, so to speak. We ourselves have a State Absolute. With us the Absolute immediately developed into the higher consciousness of the State. In Poland He acts like a kind of alcohol; with us He acts like . . . like . . . a sort of Higher Command, verstehen sie mich?"

"Even in your Catholic provinces?" asked Prince Trivelino with a smile.

"Those are mere local differences," replied Dr. Wurm. "Don't attach any importance to them, gentlemen. Germany is more united that ever before. But I must thank you, Prince, for the Catholic Karburators that you are smuggling over to us. Fortunately they are poorly made, like all Italian products."

"Come, come, gentlemen," interrupted Sir W. O'Patterney. "Neutrality in religious questions,