Fifty-One Tales by Lord Dunsany 1915

The Demagogue and the Demi-monde

A demagogue and a demi-mondaine chanced to arrive together

at the gate of Paradise.  And the Saint looked sorrowfully

at them both.

   "Why were you a demagogue?" he said to the first.

   "Because," said the demagogue, "I stood for those

principles that have made us what we are and have endeared

our Party to the great heart of the people.  In a word I

stood unflinchingly on the plank of popular representation."

   "And you?" said the Saint to her of the demi-monde.

   "I wanted money," said the demi-mondaine.

   And after some moments' thought the Saint said: "Well,

come in; though you don't deserve to."

   But to the demagogue he said: "We genuinely regret that

the limited space at our disposal and our unfortunate lack

of interest in those Questions that you have gone so far to

inculate and have so ably upheld in the past, prevent us

from giving you the support for which you seek."

   And he shut the golden door.