(The rest of.the letter— it was stated— could not be published for reasons that are intimately connected with the interests of religion and morality.) Such villainous and seditious letters, subversive to the authority of church and state, and tending to overthrow the very foundations of society— (for what would become of society if every person should consider the other a fool ?) could not be tolerated. Even the friends of the Image did not wish to be told th^t they were fools ; the scientists stormed, the clergy raged, the aristocracy be came indignant; the Government was applied to for protection, and the public demanded in a loud voice that the Image should be destroyed. To crown the exposure, a letter in the handwriting of Mr. Green was found and published in “ The Missionary.” It was addressed to a medical man, and its contents were as follows : ‘ “ Dear Sir,— I have been informed that you have a good remedy by which the power of ventriloquism can be developed. Ever since I came to Urur, I and the other Chelas have been engaged in making ‘ the Image ’ talk by our ven triloquism and we are all affected with sore throat and cramps in the digestive organs. If you can give me any advice, please address.” “ G r e e n E sq , C h e l a , U r u r .”
This letter, which, however, afterwards was declared to be a forgery, settled the matter. It proved beyond the possibility of a doubt, that the Image was not only possessed by devils, but that all its utterances were the results of frauds and impostures produced by Mr. Green, Mr. Malaban and Ram. Henceforth, the clamour of the press, and the outcry of the public, could not be treated any longer with indifference. It was necessary that an example should be made and the culprits be punished. These were dark days for the Society for the Distribution of Wisdom. While the Hierophant was away, seeking for the subterranean hole that leads to the city of Kakadumbala, they were like a herd of sheep without their leader, not knowing which way to go. In vain Messrs. Malaban, Ram and Green sent lengthy communications to the papers in defence of the Mysterious Brother hood ; the former expressing his contempt for the vile insinuations of “ The Missionary,” which he would not have condescended to answer if it were not for the benefit of humanity ; while the latter stated that he had studied Latin and Greek, and that, therefore, even a child might see that he was not the man to be easily imposed on. Alas, for poor humanity ! All these communications were returned with the ominous words written on the margin, “ declined with thanks.” In vain Mrs. Honeycomb, being certain that it all was the work of Black Magicians, substituted nitric acid for the oil of vitriol, the latter having proved to be ineffective to restore harmony at Urur. Krashibashi and Rataramorubatchi seemed to have gone to sleep. Whether they had emigrated, or found it beneath their dignity to meddle with such trifling affairs, has not been ascertained ; because Captain Bumpkins was gone and the Chelas were not permitted to tell. At last, however, a communication was given through the “ Image,” signed by the great I Am, in which he said that on a certain day he would give a public proof of his power, and existence, and perform a miracle. This letter created a great sensation, and a kind of armistice was silently agreed upon between the friends and the foes of the Image, until the day of the miracle should arrive.