"Oh, of course, there have been False Dimitris and Perkin
Warbecks, who imposed on the world for a time," assented
Belturbet, "but they personated people who were dead or safely out
of the way. That was a comparatively simple matter. It would be
far easier to pass oneself of as dead Hannibal than as living
Haldane, for instance."
"I was thinking," said the Duke, "of the most famous case of all,
the angel who koepenicked King Robert of Sicily with such
brilliant results. Just imagine what an advantage it would be to
have angels deputizing, to use a horrible but convenient word, for
Quinston and Lord Hugo Sizzle, for example. How much smoother the
Parliamentary machine would work than at present!"
"Now you're talking nonsense," said Belturbet; "angels don't exist
nowadays, at least, not in that way, so what is the use of
dragging them into a serious discussion? It's merely silly."
"If you talk to me like that I shall just DO it," said the Duke.
"Do what?" asked Belturbet. There were times when his young
friend's uncanny remarks rather frightened him.
"I shall summon angelic forces to take over some of the more
troublesome personalities of our public life, and I shall send the
ousted originals into temporary retirement in suitable animal
organisms.
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