' his eyes flashed delightedly. 'O comrade of comrades! that
year lost to me will count heavily as I learn to value those I have
gained. Yes, brainless! There, in music, we beat them, as politically
France beats us. No life without brain! The brainless in Art and in
Statecraft are nothing but a little more obstructive than the dead.
It is less easy to cut a way through them. But it must be done, or the
Philistine will be as the locust in his increase, and devour the green
blades of the earth. You have been trained to shudder at the demagogue?'

'I do not shudder,' said Clotilde.

'A diamond from the lapidary!--Your sentences have many facets. Well,
you are conversing with a demagogue, an avowed one: a demagogue and
a Jew. You take it as a matter of course: you should exhibit some
sparkling incredulity. The Christian is like the politician in supposing
the original obverse of him everlastingly the same, after the pattern
of the monster he was originally taught to hate. But the Jew has been
a little christianized, and we have a little bejewed the Christian.
So with demagogues: as we see the conservative crumbling, we grow
conservatived. Try to think individually upon what you have to learn
collectively--that is your task. You are of the few who will be equal to
it. We are not men of blood, believe me. I am not. For example, I detest
and I decline the duel. I have done it, and proved myself a man of metal
notwithstanding. To say nothing of the inhumanity, the senselessness of
duelling revolts me. 'Tis a folly, so your nobles practise it, and
your royal wiseacre sanctions. No blood for me: and yet I tell you
that whatever opposes me, I will sweep away. How? With the brain. If we
descend to poor brute strength or brutal craft, it is from failing in
the brain: we quit the leadership of our forces, and the descent is the
beast's confession. Do I say how? Perhaps by your aid.--You do not
start and cry: "Mine!" That is well. I have not much esteem for
non-professional actresses. They are numerous and not entertaining.--You
leave it to me to talk.'

'Could I do better?'

'You listen sweetly.'

'It is because I like to hear.'

'You have the pearly little ear of a shell on the sand.'

'With the great sea sounding near it!'

Alvan drew closer to her.

'I look into your eyes and perceive that one may listen to you and
speak to you. Heart to heart, then! Yes, a sea to lull you, a sea to win
you--temperately, let us hope; by