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vior is beautiful。 The generosity of these women when they believe that the moment for sacrifice has come！ She is terribly afraid of her father； and yet she stays away from home all night with a person whom she hardly knows； and whom she was not even thinking of in the middle of the afternoon！ 。 。 。 The entire nation feels gratitude toward those who are going to imperil their lives； and she； poor child； wishing to do something； too； for those destined for death； to give them a little pleasure in their last hour 。 。 。 is giving the best she has； that which she can never recover。 I have sketched her role poorly； perhaps。 。 。 。 Laugh at me if you want to； but admit that it is beautiful。〃
Desnoyers laughed heartily at his friend's discomfiture； in spite of the fact that he； too； was suffering a good deal of secret annoyance。 He had seen Marguerite but once since the day of his return。 The only news of her that he had received was by letter。 。 。 。 This cursed war！ What an upset for happy people！ Marguerite's mother was ill。 She was brooding over the departure of her son； an officer； on the first day of the mobilization。 Marguerite； too； was uneasy about her brother and did not think it expedient to come to the studio while her mother was grieving at home。 When was this situation ever to end？ 。 。 。
That check for four hundred thousand francs which he had brought from America was also worrying him。 The day before； the bank had declined to pay it for lack of the customary official advice。 Afterward they said that they had received the advice； but did not give him the money。 That very afternoon； when the trust companies had closed their doors； the government had already declared a moratorium； in order to prevent a general bankruptcy due to the general panic。 When would they pay him？ 。 。 。 Perhaps when the war which had not yet begun was endedperhaps never。 He had no other money available except the two thousand francs left over from his travelling expenses。 All of his friends were in the same distressing situation； unable to draw on the sums which they had in the banks。 Those who had any money were obliged to go from shop to shop； or form in line at the bank doors； in order to get a bill changed。 Oh； this war！ This stupid war！
In the Champs Elysees； they saw a man with a broad…brimmed hat who was walking slowly ahead of them and talking to himself。 Argensola recognized him as he passed near the street lamp； 〃Friend Tchernoff。〃 Upon returning their greeting； the Russian betrayed a slight odor of wine。 Uninvited； he had adjusted his steps to theirs； accompanying them toward the Arc de Triomphe。
Julio had merely exchanged silent nods with Argensola's new acquaintance when encountering him in the vestibule； but sadness softens the heart and makes us seek the friendship of the humble as a refreshing shelter。 Tchernoff； on the contrary； looked at Desnoyers as though he had known him all his life。
The man had interrupted his monologue； heard only by the black masses of vegetation； the blue shadows perforated by the reddish tremors of the street lights； the summer night with its cupola of warm breezes and twinkling stars。 He took a few steps without saying anything； as a mark of consideration to his companions； and then renewed his arguments； taking them up where he had broken off； without offering any explanation； as though he were still talking to himself。 。 。 。
〃And at this very minute； they are shouting with enthusiasm the same as they are doing here； honestly believing that they are going to defend their outraged country； wishing to die for their families and firesides that nobody has threatened。〃
〃Who are 'they；' Tchernoff？〃 asked Argensola。
The Russian stared at him as though surprised at such a question。
〃They；〃 he said laconically。
The two understood。 。 。 。 THEY！ It could not be anyone else。
〃I have lived ten years in Germany；〃 he continued； connecting up his words； now that he found himself listened to。 〃I was daily correspondent for a paper in Berlin and I know these people。 Passing along these thronged boulevards； I have been seeing in my imagination what must be happening there at this hour。 They； too； are singing and shouting with enthusiasm as they wave their flags。 On the outside； they seem just alikebut oh； what a difference within！ 。 。 。 Last night the people beset a few babblers in the boulevard who were yelling； 'To Berlin！'a slogan of bad memories and worse taste。 France does not wish conquests； her only desire is to be respected； to live in peace without humiliations or disturbances。 To…night two of the mobilized men said on leaving； 'When we enter Germany we are going to make it a republic！' 。 。 。 A republic is not a perfect thing； but it is better than living under an irresponsible monarchy by the grace of God。 It at least presupposes tranquillity and absence of the personal ambitions that disturb life。 I was impressed by the generous thought of these laboring men who； instead of wishing to exterminate their enemies； were planning to give them something better。〃
Tchernoff remained silent a few minutes； smiling ironically at the picture which his imagination was calling forth。
〃In Berlin； the masses are expressing their enthusiasm in the lofty phraseology befitting a superior people。 Those in the lowest classes； accustomed to console themselves for humiliations with a gross materialism； are now crying 'Nach Paris！ We are going to drink champagne gratis！' The pietistic burgher； ready to do anything to attain a new honor； and the aristocracy which has given the world the greatest scandals of recent years； are also shouting； 'Nach Paris！' To them Paris is the Babylon of the deadly sin； the city of the Moulin Rouge and the restaurants of Montmartre； the only places that they know。 。 。 。 And my comrades of the Social… Democracy； they are also cheering； but to another tune。'To…morrow！ To St。 Petersburg！ Russian ascendency； the menace of civilization； must be obliterated！' The Kaiser waving the tyranny of another country as a scarecrow to his people！ 。 。 。 What a joke！〃
And the loud laugh of the Russian sounded through the night like the noise of wooden clappers。
〃We are more civilized than the Germans；〃 he said； regaining his self…control。
Desnoyers； who had been listening with great interest； now gave a start of surprise； saying to himself； 〃This Tchernoff has been drinking。〃
〃Civilization；〃 continued the Socialist； 〃does not consist merely in great industry； in many ships； armies and numerous universities that only teach science。 That is material civilization。 There is another； a superior one； that elevates the soul and does not permit human dignity to suffer without protesting against continual humiliations。 A Swiss living in his wooden chalet and considering himself the equal of the other men of his country； is more civilized than the Herr Professor who gives precedence to a lieutenant； or to a Hamburg millionaire who； in turn； bends his neck like a lackey before those whose names are prefixed by a von。〃
Here the Spaniard assented as though he could guess what Tchernoff was going to say。
〃We Russians endure great tyranny。 I know something about that。 I know the hunger and cold of Siberia。 。 。 。 But opposed to our tyranny has always existed a revolutionary protest。 Part of the nation is half…barbarian； but the rest has a superior mentality； a lofty moral spirit which faces danger and sacrifice because of liberty and truth。 。 。 。 And Germany？ Who there has ever raised a protest in order to defend human rights？ What revolutions have ever broken out in Prussia； the land of the great despots？
Frederick William； the founder of militarism； when he was tired of beating his wife and spitting in his children's plates； used to sally forth； thong in hand； in order to cowhide those subjects who did not get out of his way in time。 His son； Frederick the Great； declared that he died； bored to death with governing a nation of slaves。 In two centuries of Prussian history； one single revolutionthe barricades of 1848a bad Berlinish copy of the Paris revolution； and without any result。 Bismarck corrected with a heavy hand so as to crush completely the last attempts at protest if such ever really existed。 And when his friends were threatening him with revolution； the ferocious Junker； merely put his hands on his hips and roared with the most insolent of horse laughs。 A revolution in Prussia！ 。 。 。 Nothing at all； as he knew his people！〃
Tchernoff was not a patriot。 Many a time Argensola had heard him railing against his country； but now he was indignant in view of the contempt with which Teutonic haughtiness was treating the Russian nation。 Where； in the last forty years of imperial grandeur； was that universal supremacy of which the Germans were everlastingly boasting？ 。 。 。
Excellent workers in science； tenacious and short…sighted academicians； each wrapped in his specialty！Benedictines of the laboratory who experimented painstakingly and occasionally hit upon something； in spite of enormous blunders given out as truths； because they were their own 。 。 。 that was all！ And side by side with such patient laboriosity； really wort