u wish me to repeat my 'Credo' for you, since you accuse me of not
wanting yours? I believe that the future of humanity is in the progress
of reason through science. I believe that the pursuit of truth, through
science, is the divine ideal which man should propose to himself. I
believe that all is illusion and vanity outside the treasure of truths
slowly accumulated, and which will never again be lost. I believe that
the sum of these truths, always increasing, will at last confer on man
incalculable power and peace, if not happiness. Yes, I believe in the
final triumph of life."

And with a broader sweep of the hand that took in the vast horizon, as
if calling on these burning plains in which fermented the saps of all
existences to bear him witness, he added:

"But the continual miracle, my child, is life. Only open your eyes, and
look."

She shook her head.

"It is in vain that I open my eyes; I cannot see everything. It is you,
master, who are blind, since you do not wish to admit that there is
beyond an unknown realm which you will never enter. Oh, I know you are
too intelligent to be ignorant of that! Only you do not wish to take it
into account; you put the unknown aside, because it would embarrass
you in your researches. It is in vain that you tell me to put aside the
mysterious; to start from the known for the conquest of the unknown. I
cannot; the mysterious at once calls me back and disturbs me."

He listened to her, smiling, glad to see her become animated, while he
smoothed her fair curls with his hand.

"Yes, yes, I know you are like the rest; you do not wish to live without
illusions and without lies. Well, there, there; we understand each other
still, even so. Keep well; that is the half of wisdom and of happiness."

Then, changing the conversation:

"Come, you will accompany me, notwithstanding, and help me in my round
of miracles. This is Thursday, my visiting day. When the heat shall have
abated a little, we will go out together."

She refused at first, in order not to seem to yield; but she at last
consented, seeing the pain she gave him. She was accustomed to accompany
him on his round of visits. They remained for some time longer under the
plane trees, until the doctor went upstairs to dress. When he came
down again, correctly attired in a close-fitting coat and wearing a
broad-brimmed silk hat, he spoke of harnessing Bonhomme, the horse
that for a quarter of a century had taken him on his