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d humanely。 Therefore； Germany is going to be cruel with a cruelty hitherto unseen； in order that the conflict may not be prolonged。〃
He had risen and was standing； cane and straw hat in hand。 Argensola was looking at him with frank hostility。 The professor； obliged to pass near him； did so with a stiff and disdainful nod。
Then he started toward the door； accompanied by his cousin。 The farewell was brief。
〃I repeat my counsel。 If you do not like danger； go！ It may be that I am mistaken； and that this nation； convinced of the uselessness of defense； may give itself up voluntarily。 。 。 。 At any rate； we shall soon see。 I shall take great pleasure in returning to Paris when the flag of the Empire is floating over the Eiffel Tower； a mere matter of three or four weeks； certainly by the beginning of September。〃
France was going to disappear from the map。 To the Doctor； her death was a foregone conclusion。
〃Paris will remain；〃 he admitted benevolently； 〃the French will remain； because a nation is not easily suppressed； but they will not retain their former place。 We shall govern the world； they will continue to occupy themselves in inventing fashions； in making life agreeable for visiting foreigners； and in the intellectual world； we shall encourage them to educate good actresses； to produce entertaining novels and to write witty comedies。 。 。 。 Nothing more。〃
Desnoyers laughed as he shook his cousin's hand； pretending to take his words as a paradox。
〃I mean it；〃 insisted Hartrott。 〃The last hour of the French Republic as an important nation has sounded。 I have studied it at close range； and it deserves no better fate。 License and lack of confidence abovesterile enthusiasm below。〃
Upon turning his head； he again caught Argensola's malicious smile。
〃We know all about that kind of study；〃 he added aggressively。 〃We are accustomed to examine the nations of the past； to dissect them fibre by fibre； so that we recognize at a glance the psychology of the living。〃
The Bohemian fancied that he saw a surgeon talking self…sufficiently about the mysteries of the will before a corpse。 What did this pedantic interpreter of dead documents know about life？ 。 。 。
When the door closed； he approached his friend who was returning somewhat dismayed。 Argensola no longer considered Doctor Julius von Hartrott crazy。
〃What a brute！〃 he exclaimed； throwing up his hands。 〃And to think that they are at large； these originators of gloomy errors！ 。 。 。 Who would ever believe that they belong to the same land that produced Kant； the pacifist； the serene Goethe and Beethoven！ 。 。 。 To think that for so many years； we have believed that they were forming a nation of dreamers and philosophers occupied in working disinterestedly for all mankind！ 。 。 。〃
The sentence of a German geographer recurred to him： 〃The German is bicephalous； with one head he dreams and poetizes while with the other he thinks and executes。〃
Desnoyers was now beginning to feel depressed at the certainty of war。 This professor seemed to him even worse than the Herr Counsellor and the other Germans that he had met on the steamer。 His distress was not only because of his selfish thought as to how the catastrophe was going to affect his plans with Marguerite。 He was suddenly discovering that in this hour of uncertainty he loved France。 He recognized it as his father's native land and the scene of the great Revolution。 。 。 。 Although he had never mixed in political campaigns； he was a republican at heart； and had often ridiculed certain of his friends who adored kings and emperors； thinking it a great sign of distinction。
Argensola tried to cheer him up。
〃Who knows？ 。 。 。 This is a country of surprises。 One must see the Frenchman when he tries to remedy his want of foresight。 Let that barbarian of a cousin of yours say what he willthere is order； there is enthusiasm。 。 。 。 Worse off than we were those who lived in the days before Valmy。 Entirely disorganized； their only defense battalions of laborers and countrymen handling a gun for the first time。 。 。 。 But； nevertheless； the Europe of the old monarchies could not for twenty years free themselves from these improvised warriors！〃
CHAPTER V
IN WHICH APPEAR THE FOUR HORSEMEN
The two friends now lived a feverish life； considerably accelerated by the rapidity with which events succeeded each other。 Every hour brought forth an astonishing bit of newsgenerally falsewhich changed opinions very suddenly。 As soon as the danger of war seemed arrested； the report would spread that mobilization was going to be ordered within a few minutes。
Within each twenty…four hours were compressed the disquietude； anxiety and nervous waste of a normal year。 And that which was aggravating the situation still more was the uncertainty； the expectation of the event； feared but still invisible； the distress on account of a danger continually threatening but never arriving。
History in the making was like a stream overflowing its banks； events overlapping each other like the waves of an inundation。 Austria was declaring war with Servia while the diplomats of the great powers were continuing their efforts to stem the tide。 The electric web girdling the planet was vibrating incessantly in the depths of the ocean and on the peaks of the continents； transmitting alternate hopes and fears。
Russia was mobilizing a part of its army。 Germany； with its troops in readiness under the pretext of manoeuvres； was decreeing the state of 〃threatened war。〃 The Austrians； regardless of the efforts of diplomacy； were beginning the bombardment of Belgrade。 William II； fearing that the intervention of the Powers might settle the differences between the Czar and the Emperor of Austria； was forcing the course of events by declaring war upon Russia。 Then Germany began isolating herself； cutting off railroad and telegraphic communications in order to shroud in mystery her invading forces。
France was watching this avalanche of events； temperate in its words and enthusiasm。 A cool and grave resolution was noticeable everywhere。 Two generations had come into the world； informed as soon as they reached a reasonable age； that some day there would undoubtedly be war。 Nobody wanted it； the adversary imposed it。 。 。 。 But all were accepting it with the firm intention of fulfilling their duty。
During the daytime Paris was very quiet； concentrating the mind on the work in hand。 Only a few groups of exalted patriots； following the tricolored flag； were passing through the place de la Concorde； in order to salute the statue of Strasbourg。 The people were accosting each other in a friendly way in the streets。 Everybody seemed to know everybody else； although they might not have met before。 Eye attracted eye； and smiles appeared to broaden mutually with the sympathy of a common interest。 The women were sad but speaking cheerily in order to hide their emotions。 In the long summer twilight； the boulevards were filling with crowds。 Those from the outlying districts were converging toward the centre of the city； as in the remote revolutionary days； banding together in groups； forming an endless multitude