Presently the marquis roused himself from the past. "I received your
letter in regard to funds. How is it that you came to me?"
"You have gained the reputation of being liberal."
"I have several reputations," said the marquis dryly. "But why should
I give you a thousand livres? That is a good many."
"Oh, Monsieur, give what you like; only that sum was suggested by me
because it is the exact amount needed in our work."
"But I am out of sympathy with your projects and your religion,
especially your religion. I am neither a Catholic nor a Huguenot.
Religion which seeks political domination is not a religion, but a
party. And what are Catholicity and Huguenotism but political
factions, with a different set of prayers? Next to a homely woman,
there is nothing I detest so much as politics. I have no religion."
"It would be a great joy," said Chaumonot, "to bring about your
conversion."
"You have heard of Sisyphus, who was condemned eternally to roll a
stone up a hill? Well, Monsieur, that would be a simple task compared
with an attempt to convert me to Catholicism. I believe in three
things: life, pleasure, and death, because I know them to exist.
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