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