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Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven were subjects of little principalities. They received influence from other countries and contributed their share to the universal civilization like citizens of the world, without insisting that the world should, therefore, become Germanized." Czarism had committed atrocities. Tchernoff knew that by experience, and did not need the Germans to assure him of it.
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.
Since this odd personage had also known his son, that was enough to make Tchernoff arouse his interest. In normal times, he would have kept him at a distance. The millionaire was a great believer in law and order. He abominated revolutionists, with the instinctive fear of all the rich who have built up a fortune and remember their humble beginnings.
Tchernoff continued drinking, but with a distracted air, his eyes fixed on the red cloud that floated over the roofs. The two friends conjectured his mental labor from his concentrated look, and the low exclamations which were escaping him like the echoes of an interior monologue. Suddenly he leaped from thought to word without any forewarning, continuing aloud the course of his reasoning.
"But human powers," continued Tchernoff, "have their limits, and the French soldier, with all his enthusiasm, is a man like the rest.
At last we stood before the door of the autocrat's room, which Tchernoff threw open unceremoniously, when we were confronted by His Majesty, who wore a rough tweed shooting-suit, presenting anything but an Imperial figure.
He had his motives for doubting it. . . . He, Tchernoff, was commenting on these illusions with the smile of a flat-nosed sphinx when the bell rang for a second time, so that Argensola was obliged to break away from his interesting friend, and run to open the main door. A gentleman wished to see Julio. He spoke very correct French, though his accent was a revelation for Argensola.
Desnoyers recalled the four horsemen, and all that Argensola had told him before presenting him to the Russian. "Blood!" shouted jubilantly. "All the sky seems to be blood-red. . . . It is the apocalyptic beast who has received his death-wound. Soon we shall see him die." Tchernoff smiled, too, but his was a melancholy smile. "No; the beast does not die. It is the eternal companion of man.
His religion loves blood and maintains castes; his true worship is that of Odin; only that nowadays, the god of slaughter has changed his name and calls himself, 'The State'!" Tchernoff paused an instant perhaps in order to increase the wonder of his companions and then said with simplicity: "I am a Christian."
Humanity may well tremble for the future if again resounds under this archway the tramp of boots following a march of Wagner or any other Kapellmeister." They left the Arch, following the avenue Victor Hugo. Tchernoff walking along in dogged silence as though the vision of this imaginary procession had overwhelmed him. Suddenly he continued aloud the course of his reflections.
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