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endure Germany。 The spirit of servility and pettiness penetrates everywhere。 。 。 。 I believe only in French culture； and what the rest of Europe calls culture appears to me to be a mistake。 The few individual cases of lofty culture that I met in Germany were of French origin。〃
〃You know；〃 continued Argensola； 〃that in quarrelling with Wagner about the excess of Germanism in his art； Nietzsche proclaimed the necessity of mediterraneanizing music。 His ideal was a culture for all Europe； but with a Latin base。〃
Julius von Hartrott replied most disdainfully to this； repeating the Spaniard's very words。 Men who thought much said many things。 Besides； Nietzsche was a poet； completely demented at his death； and was no authority among the University sages。 His fame had only been recognized in foreign lands。 。 。 。 And he paid no further attention to the youth； ignoring him as though he had evaporated into thin air after his presumption。 All the professor's attention was now concentrated on Desnoyers。
〃This country；〃 he resumed； 〃is dying from within。 How can you doubt that revolution will break out the minute war is declared？ 。 。 。 Have you not noticed the agitation of the boulevard on account of the Caillaux trial？ Reactionaries and revolutionists have been assaulting each other for the past three days。 I have seen them challenging one another with shouts and songs as if they were going to come to blows right in the middle of the street。 This division of opinion will become accentuated when our troops cross the frontier。 It will then be civil war。 The anti…militarists are clamoring mournfully； believing that it is in the power of the government to prevent the clash。 。 。 。 A country degenerated by democracy and by the inferiority of the triumphant Celt； greedy for full liberty！ 。 。 。 We are the only free people on earth because we know how to obey。〃
This paradox made Julio smile。 Germany the only free people！ 。 。 。
〃It is so；〃 persisted Hartrott energetically。 〃We have the liberty best suited to a great peopleeconomical and intellectual liberty。〃
〃And political liberty？〃
The professor received this question with a scornful shrug。
〃Political liberty！ 。 。 。 Only decadent and ungovernable people； inferior races anxious for equality and democratic confusion； talk about political liberty。 We Germans do not need it。 We are a nation of masters who recognize the sacredness of government； and we wish to be commanded by those of superior birth。 We possess the genius of organization。〃
That； according to the Doctor； was the grand German secret； and the Teutonic race upon taking possession of the world； would share its discovery with all。 The nations would then be so organized that each individual would give the maximum of service to society。 Humanity； banded in regiments for every class of production； obeying a superior officer； like machines contributing the greatest possible output of laborthere you have the perfect state！ Liberty was a purely negative idea if not accompanied with a positive concept which would make it useful。
The two friends listened with astonishment to this description of the future which Teutonic superiority was offering to the world。 Every individual submitted to intensive production； the same as a bit of land from which its owner wishes to get the greatest number of vegetables。 。 。 。 Mankind reduced to mechanics。 。 。 。 No useless operations that would not produce immediate results。 。 。 。 And the people who heralded this awful idea were the very philosophers and idealists who had once given contemplation and reflection the first place in their existence！ 。 。 。
Hartrott again harked back to the inferiority of their racial enemies。 In order to combat successfully； it required self… assurance； an unquenchable confidence in the superiority of their own powers。
〃At this very hour in Berlin； everyone is accepting war； everyone is believing that victory is sure； while HERE！ 。 。 。 I do not say that the French are afraid； they have a brave past that galvanizes them at certain timesbut they are so depressed that it is easy to guess that they will make almost any sacrifices in order to evade what is coming upon them。 The people first will shout with enthusiasm； as it always cheers that which carries it to perdition。 The upper classes have no faith in the future； they are keeping quiet； but the presentiment of disaster may easily be conjectured。 Yesterday I was talking with your father。 He is French； and he is rich。 He was indignant against the government of his country for involving the nation in the European conflict in order to defend a distant and uninteresting people。 He complains of the exalted patriots who have opened the abyss between Germany and France； preventing a reconciliation。 He says that Alsace and Lorraine are not worth what a war would cost in men and money。 。 。 。 He recognizes our greatness and is convinced that we have progressed so rapidly that the other countries cannot come up to us。 。 。 。 And as your father thinks； so do many othersall those who are wrapped in creature comfort； and fear to lose it。 Believe me； a country that hesitates and fears war is conquered before the first battle。〃
Julio evinced a certain disquietude； as though he would like to cut short the conversation。
〃Just leave my father out of it！ He speaks that way to…day because war is not yet an accomplished fact； and he has to contradict and vent his indignation on whoever comes near him。 To…morrow he will say just the opposite。 。 。 。 My father is a Latin。〃
The professor looked at his watch。 He must go； there were still many things which he had to do before going to the station。 The Germans living in Paris had fled in great bands as though a secret order had been circulating among them。 That afternoon the last of those who had been living ostensibly in the Capital would depart。
〃I have come to see you because of our family interest； because it was my duty to give you fair warning。 You are a foreigner； and nothing holds you here。 If you are desirous of witnessing a great historic event； remainbut it will be better for you to go。 The war is going to be ruthless； very ruthless； and if Paris attempts resistance； as formerly； we shall see terrible things。 Modes of offense have greatly changed。〃
Desnoyers made a gesture of indifference。
〃The same as your father；〃 observed the professor。 〃Last night he and all your family responded in the same way。 Even my mother prefers to remain with her sister； saying that the Germans are very good； very civilized and there is nothing to apprehend in their triumph。〃
This good opinion seemed to be troubling the Doctor。
〃They don't understand what modern warfare means。 They ignore the fact that our generals have studied the art of overcoming the enemy and they will apply it mercilessly。 Ruthlessness is the only means； since it perturbs the intelligence of the enemy； paralyzes his action and pulverizes his resistance。 The more ferocious the war； the more quickly it is concluded。 To punish with cruelty is to proceed humanely。 Therefore； Germany is going to be cruel with a cruelty hitherto unseen； in order that t