按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had returned from his trip。 He felt the necessity of seeing at least the outside of the studio windows； as if they might give him news。 And in order to justify a trip so at variance with his policy of ignoring his son； he remembered that the carpenter lived in the same street。
〃I must hunt up Robert。 He promised a week ago that he would come here。〃
This Robert was a husky young fellow who； to use his own words； was 〃emancipated from boss tyranny；〃 and was working independently in his own home。 A tiny； almost subterranean room was serving him for dwelling and workshop。 A woman he called 〃my affinity〃 was looking carefully after his hearth and home； with a baby boy clinging to her skirts。 Desnoyers was accustomed to humor Robert's tirades against his fellow citizens because the man had always humored his whimseys about the incessant rearrangement of his furniture。 In the luxurious apartment in the avenue Victor Hugo the carpenter would sing La Internacional while using hammer and saw； and his employer would overlook his audacity of speech because of the cheapness of his work。
Upon arriving at the shop he found the man with cap over one ear； broad trousers like a mameluke's； hobnailed boots and various pennants and rosettes fastened to the lapels of his jacket。
〃You've come too late； Boss；〃 he said cheerily。 〃I am just going to close the factory。 The Proprietor has been mobilized； and in a few hours will join his regiment。〃
And he pointed to a written paper posted on the door of his dwelling like the printed cards on all establishments； signifying that employer and employees had obeyed the order of mobilization。
It had never occurred to Desnoyers that his carpenter might become a soldier； since he was so opposed to all kinds of authority。 He hated the flics； the Paris police； with whom he had； more than once； exchanged fisticuffs and clubbings。 Militarism was his special aversion。 In the meetings against the despotism of the barracks he had always been one of the noisiest participants。 And was this revolutionary fellow going to war naturally and voluntarily？ 。 。 。
Robert spoke enthusiastically of his regiment； of life among comrades with Death but four steps away。
〃I believe in my ideas； Boss； the same as before；〃 he explained as though guessing the other's thought。 〃But war is war and teaches many thingsamong others that Liberty must be accompanied with order and authority。 It is necessary that someone direct that the rest may followwillingly； by common consent 。 。 。 but they must follow。 When war actually comes one sees things very differently from when living at home doing as one pleases。〃
The night that they assassinated Jaures he howled with rage； announcing that the following morning the murder would be avenged。 He had hunted up his associates in the district in order to inform them what retaliation was being planned against the malefactors。 But war was about to break out。 There was something in the air that was opposing civil strife； that was placing private grievances in momentary abeyance； concentrating all minds on the common weal。
〃A week ago；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I was an anti…militarist！ How far away that seems nowas if a year had gone by！ I keep thinking as before！ I love peace and hate war like all my comrades。 But the French have not offended anybody； and yet they threaten us； wishing to enslave us。 。 。 。 But we French can be fierce； since they oblige us to be； and in order to defend ourselves it is just that nobody should shirk； that all should obey。 Discipline does not quarrel with Revolution。 Remember the armies of the first Republicall citizens； Generals as well as soldiers； but Hoche； Kleber and the others were rough…hewn； unpolished benefactors who knew how to command and exact obedience。〃
The carpenter was well read。 Besides the papers and pamphlets of 〃the Idea；〃 he had also read on stray sheets the views of Michelet and other liberal actors on the stage of history。
〃We are going to make war on War；〃 he added。 〃We are going to fight so that this war will be the last。〃
This statement did not seem to be expressed with sufficient clearness； so he recast his thought。
〃We are going to fight for the future； we are going to die in order that our grandchildren may not have to endure a similar calamity。 If the enemy triumphs； the war…habit will triumph； and conquest will be the only means of growth。 First they will overcome Europe； then the rest of the world。 Later on； those who have been pillaged will rise up in their wrath。 More wars！ 。 。 。 We do not want conquests。 We desire to regain Alsace and Lorraine； for their inhabitants wish to return to us 。 。 。 and nothing more。 We shall not imitate the enemy； appropriating territory and jeopardizing the peace of the world。 We had enough of that with Napoleon； we must not repeat that experience。 We are going to fight for our immediate security； and at the same time for the security of the worldfor the life of the weaker nations。 If this were a war of aggression； of mere vanity； of conquest； then we Socialists would bethink ourselves of our anti… militarism。 But this is self…defense； and the government has not been at fault。 Since we are attacked； we must be united in our defensive。〃
The carpenter； who was also anti…clerical； was now showing a more generous tolerance； an amplitude of ideas that embraced all mankind。 The day before he had met at the administration office a Reservist who was just leaving to join his regiment。 At a glance he saw that this man was a priest。
〃I am a carpenter；〃 he had said to him； by way of introduction； 〃and you； comrade； are working in the churches？〃
He employed this figure of speech in order that the priest might not suspect him of anything offensive。 The two had clasped hands。
〃I do not take much stock in the clerical cowl；〃 Robert explained to Desnoyers。 〃For some time I have not been on friendly terms with religion。 But in every walk of life there must be good people； and the good people ought to understand each other in a crisis like this。 Don't you think so； Boss？〃
The war coincided with his socialistic tendencies。 Before this； when speaking of future revolution； he had felt a malign pleasure in imagining all the rich deprived of their fortunes and having to work in order to exist。 Now he was equally enthusiastic at the thought that all Frenchmen would share the same fate without class distinction。
〃All with knapsacks on their backs and eating at mess。〃
And he was even extending this military sobriety to those who remained behind the army。 War was going to cause great scarcity of provisions； and all would have to come down to very plain fare。
〃You； too； Boss； who are too old to go to waryou； with all your millions； will have to eat the same as I。 。 。 。 Admit that it is a beautiful thing。〃
Desnoyers was not offended by the malicious satisfaction that his future privations seemed to inspire in the carpenter。 He was very thoughtful。 A man of his stamp； an enemy of existing conditions； who had no property to defend； was going to warto death； perhaps because of a generous and distant ideal； in order that future generations might never