\documentclass{article} \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc} \usepackage[english,shorthands=off]{babel} \usepackage[convert,en]{qqru} \nofiles \begin{document} \sloppy "How long have you lived?" asked Button-Bright. The King coughed again and turned a bit bluer. "That is considered an impertinent question in Sky Island," he answered, "but I will say that every Boolooroo is elected to reign three hundred years, and I've reigned not quite---ahem!---two hundred." "Are your kings elected, then?" asked Cap'n Bill. "Yes, of course. This is a Republic, you know. The people elect all their officers from the King down. Every man and every woman is a voter. The Boolooroo tells them whom to vote for, and if they don't obey, they are severely punished. It's a fine system of government, and the only thing I object to is electing the Boolooroo for only three hundred years. It ought to be for life. My successor has already been elected, but he can't reign for a hundred years to come." "I think three hundred years is plenty long enough," said Trot. "It gives someone else a chance to rule, an' I wouldn't be s'prised if the next king is a better one. Seems to me you're not much of a Boolooroo." \end{document}