Pagina 660 di 788

"You may be sure that there in the second group the gentry are

listening with attention: this good man has tucked his hands into

his belt and has pricked up his ears; that other is holding his

hand to his ear and is silently twirling his mustache; he is

evidently gathering in the words and storing them up in his

memory. The orator takes solid comfort in seeing that his hearers

are converted; he strokes his pocket, for he already has their

votes in his pocket.