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I know； but this present decision of yours is a climb down； as much
as to say that your protest was wrong。〃
Miltoun rose from his seat。 〃I cannot discuss this；〃 he said； 〃I
cannot。〃
〃For her sake； you must。 If you give up your public work； you'll
spoil her life a second time。〃
Miltoun again sat down。 At the word 'must' a steely feeling had come
to his aid； his eyes began to resemble the old Cardinal's。 〃Your
nature and mine； Courtier；〃 he said； 〃are too far apart； we shall
never understand each other。〃
〃Never mind that；〃 answered Courtier。 〃Admitting those two
alternatives to be horrible； which you never would have done unless
the facts had been brought home to you personally
〃That；〃 said Miltoun icily； 〃I deny your right to say。〃
〃Anyway； you do admit themif you believe you had not the right to
rescue her； on what principle do you base that belief？〃
Miltoun placed his elbow on the table； and leaning his chin on his
hand； regarded the champion of lost causes without speaking。 There
was such a turmoil going on within him that with difficulty he could
force his lips to obey him。
〃By what right do you ask me that？〃 he said at last。 He saw
Courtier's face grow scarlet； and his fingers twisting furiously at
those flame…like moustaches； but his answer was as steadily ironical
as usual。
〃Well； I can hardly sit still； my last evening in England； without
lifting a finger； while you immolate a woman to whom I feel like a
brother。 I'll tell you what your principle is： Authority； unjust or
just； desirable or undesirable； must be implicitly obeyed。 To break
a law； no matter on what provocation； or for whose sake； is to break
the commandment〃
〃Don't hesitatesay； of God。〃
〃Of an infallible fixed Power。 Is that a true definition of your
principle？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Miltoun； between his teeth； 〃I think so。〃
〃Exceptions prove the rule。〃
〃Hard cases make bad law。〃
Courtier smiled ： 〃I knew you were coming out with that。 I deny that
they do with this law； which is altogether behind the times。 You had
the right to rescue this woman。〃
〃No； Courtier； if we must fight； let us fight on the naked facts。〃
have not rescued anyone。 I have merely stolen sooner than starve。
That is why I cannot go on pretending to be a pattern。 If it were
known； I could not retain my seat an hour； I can't take advantage of
an accidental secrecy。 Could you？〃
Courtier was silent； and with his eyes Miltoun pressed on him； as
though he would despatch him with that glance。
〃I could；〃 said Courtier at last。 〃When this law； by enforcing
spiritual adultery on those who have come to hate their mates；
destroys the sanctity of the married statethe very sanctity it
professes to uphold； you must expect to have it broken by reasoning
men and women without their feeling shame； or losing self…respect。〃
In Miltoun there was rising that vast and subtle passion for
dialectic combat； which was of his very fibre。 He had almost lost
the feeling that this was his own future being discussed。 He saw
before him in this sanguine man； whose voice and eyes had such a
white…hot sound and look； the incarnation of all that he
temperamentally opposed。
〃That；〃 he said； 〃is devil's advocacy。 I admit no individual as
judge in his own case。〃
〃Ah！ Now we're coming to it。 By the way； shall we get out of this
heat？〃
They were no sooner in the cooler street； than the voice of Courtier
began again：
〃Distrust of human nature； fearit's the whole basis of action for
men of your stamp。 You deny the right of the individual to judge；
because you've no faith in the essential goodness of men； at heart
you believe them bad。 You give them no freedom； you allow them no
consent； because you believe that their decisions would move
downwards； and not upwards。 Well； it's the whole difference between
the aristocratic and the democratic view of life。 As you once told
me； you hate and fear the crowd。〃
Miltoun eyed that steady sanguine face askance：
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I do believe that men are raised in spite of
themselves。〃
〃You're honest。 By whom？〃
Again Miltoun felt rising within him a sort of fury。 Once for all he
would slay this red…haired rebel； he answered with almost savage
irony：
〃Strangely enough； by that Being to mention whom you objectworking
through the medium of the best。〃
〃High…Priest！ Look at that girl slinking along there； with her eye
on us； suppose； instead of withdrawing your garment； you went over
and talked to her； got her to tell you what she really felt and
thought； you'd find things that would astonish you。 At bottom；
mankind is splendid。 And they're raised； sir； by the aspiration
that's in all of them。 Haven't you ever noticed that public
sentiment is always in advance of the Law？〃
〃And you；〃 said Miltoun； 〃are the man who is never on the side of the
majority？〃
The champion of lost causes uttered a short laugh。
〃Not so logical as all that；〃 he answered； 〃the wind still blows； and
Life's not a set of rules hung up in an office。 Let's see； where are
we？〃 They had been brought to a stand…still by a group on the
pavement in front of the Queen's Hall： 〃Shall we go in； and hear some
music； and cool our tongues？〃
Miltoun nodded； and they went in。
The great lighted hall； filled with the faint bluefish vapour from
hundreds of little rolls of tobacco leaf； was crowded from floor to
ceiling。
Taking his stand among the straw…hatted throng； Miltoun heard that
steady ironical voice behind him：
〃Profanum vulgus！ Come to listen to the finest piece of music ever
written！ Folk whom you wouldn't trust a yard to know what was good
for them！ Deplorable sight； isn't it？〃
He made no answer。 The first slow notes of the seventh Symphony of
Beethoven had begun to steal forth across the bank of flowers； and；
save for the steady rising of that bluefish vapour； as it were
incense burnt to the god of melody； the crowd had become deathly
still； as though one mind； one spirit； possessed each pale face
inclined towards that music rising and falling like the sighing of
the winds； that welcome from death the freed spirits of the
beautiful。
When the last notes had died away； he turned and walked out。
〃Well；〃 said the voice behind him； 〃hasn't that shown you how things
swell and grow； how splendid the world is？〃
Miltoun smiled。
〃It has shown me how beautiful the world can be made by a great man。〃
And suddenly； as if the music had loosened some band within him； he
began to pour forth words：
〃Look at the crowd in this street； Courtier； which of all crowds in
the whole world can best afford to be left to itself； secure from
pestilence； earthquake； cyclone； drought； from extremes of heat and
cold； in the heart of the greatest and safest city in the world； and
yet…see the figure of that policeman！ Running through all the good
behaviour of this crowd； however safe and free it looks； there is；
there always must be； a central force holding it together。 Where
does that central force come from？ From the crowd itself； you say。
I answer： No。 Look back at the origin of human States。 From the
beginnings of things； the