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ans； beginning the war of the trenches； the subterranean struggle which is the logical outcome of the reach and number of shots of the modern armament。 The conquest of half a mile of territory to…day stands for more than did the assault of a stone fortress a century ago。 Neither side is going to make any headway for a long time。 Perhaps they may never make a definite advance。 The war is bound to be long and tedious； like the athletic conquests between opponents who are equally matched。〃
〃But it will have to come to an end； sometime；〃 interpolated Desnoyers。
〃Undoubtedly； but who knows when？ 。 。 。 And in what condition will they both be when it is all over？〃 。 。 。
He was counting upon a rapid finale when it was least expected； through the exhaustion of one of the contestants； carefully dissimulated until the last moment。
〃Germany will be vanquished；〃 he added with firm conviction。 〃I do not know when nor how； but she will fall logically。 She failed in her master…stroke in not entering Paris and overcoming its opposition。 All the trumps in her pack of cards were then played。 She did not win； but continues playing the game because she holds many cards； and she will prolong it for a long time to come。 。 。 。 But what she could not do at first； she will never be able to do。〃
For Tchernoff； the final defeat did not mean the destruction of Germany nor the annihilation of the German people。
〃Excessive patriotism irritates me；〃 he pursued。 〃Hearing people form plans for the definite extinction of Germany seems to me like listening to the Pan…Germanists of Berlin when they talk of dividing up the continents。〃
Then he summed up his opinion。
〃Imperialism will have to be crushed for the sake of the tranquillity of the world； the great war machine which menaces the peace of nations will have to be suppressed。 Since 1870； we have all been living in dread of it。 For forty years； the war has been averted； but in all that time； what apprehension！〃 。 。 。
What was most irritating Tchernoff was the moral lesson born of this situation which had ended by overwhelming the worldthe glorification of power； the sanctification of success； the triumph of materialism； the respect for the accomplished fact； the mockery of the noblest sentiments as though they were merely sonorous and absurd phrases； the reversal of moral values 。 。 。 a philosophy of bandits which pretended to be the last word of progress； and was no more than a return to despotism； violence； and the barbarity of the most primitive epochs of history。
While he was longing for the suppression of the representatives of this tendency； he would not； therefore； demand the extermination of the German people。
〃This nation has great merits jumbled with bad conditions inherited from a not far…distant； barbarous past。 It possesses the genius of organization and work； and is able to lend great service to humanity。 。 。 。 But first it is necessary to give it a douchethe douche of downfall。 The Germans are mad with pride and their madness threatens the security of the world。 When those who have poisoned them with the illusion of universal hegemony have disappeared； when misfortune has freshened their imagination and transformed them into a community of humans； neither superior nor inferior to the rest of mankind； they will become a tolerant people； useful 。 。 。 and who knows but they may even prove sympathetic！〃
According to Tchernoff； there was not in existence to…day a more dangerous nation。 Its political organization was converting it into a warrior horde； educated by kicks and submitted to continual humiliations in order that the willpower which always resists discipline might be completely nullified。
〃It is a nation where all receive blows and desire to give them to those lower down。 The kick that the Kaiser gives is transmitted from back to back down to the lowest rung of the social ladder。 The blows begin in the school and are continued in the barracks； forming part of the education。 The apprenticeship of the Prussian Crown Princes has always consisted in receiving fisticuffs and cowhidings from their progenitor； the king。 The Kaiser beats his children； the officer his soldiers； the father his wife and children； the schoolmaster his pupils； and when the superior is not able to give blows； he subjects those under him to the torment of moral insult。〃
On this account； when they abandoned their ordinary avocations； taking up arms in order to fall upon another human group； they did so with implacable ferocity。
〃Each one of them；〃 continued the Russian； 〃carries on his back the marks of kicks； and when his turn comes； he seeks consolation in passing them on to the unhappy creatures whom war puts into his power。 This nation of war…lords； as they love to call themselves； aspires to lordship； but outside of the country。 Within it； are the ones who least appreciate human dignity and； therefore； long vehemently to spread their dominant will over the face of the earth； passing from lackeys to lords。〃
Suddenly Don Marcelo stopped going with such frequency to the studio。 He was now haunting the home and office of the senator； because this friend had upset his tranquillity。 Lacour had been much depressed since the heir to the family glory had broken through the protecting paternal net in order to go to war。
One night； while dining with the Desnoyers family； an idea popped into his head which filled him with delight。 〃Would you like to see your son？〃 He needed to see Rene and had begun negotiating for a permit from headquarters which would allow him to visit the front。 His son belonged to the same army division as Julio； perhaps their camps were rather far apart； but an automobile makes many revolutions before it reaches the end of its journey。
It was not necessary to say more。 Desnoyers instantly felt the most overmastering desire to see his boy； since； for so many months； he had had to content himself with reading his letters and studying the snap shot which one of his comrades had made of his soldier son。
From that time on； he besieged the senator as though he were a political supporter desiring an office。 He visited him in the mornings in his home； invited him to dinner every evening； and hunted him down in the salons of the Luxembourg。 Before the first word of greeting could be exchanged； his eyes were formulating the same interrogation。 。 。 。 〃When will you get that permit？〃
The great man could only reply by lamenting the indifference of the military department toward the civilian element； it always had been inimical toward parliamentarism。
〃Besides； Joffre is showing himself most unapproachable； he does not encourage the curious。 。 。 。 To…morrow I will see the President。〃
A few days later； he arrived at the house in the avenue Victor Hugo； with an expression of radiant satisfaction that filled Don Marcelo with joy。
〃It has come？〃
〃It has come。 。 。 。 We start the day after to…morrow。〃
Desnoyers went the following afternoon to the studio in the rue de la Pompe。
〃I am going to…morrow！〃
The artist was very eager to accompany him。 Would it not be possible for him to go； too； as secretary to the senator？ 。