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！
night； for he was a prey to his paternal love。 He would gladly have
died； if he could only have kissed his son； he would have committed
murder； performed any task； braved any danger； ventured anything。 He
wrote to her； but she did not reply； and； after writing her some twenty
letters； he saw that there was no hope of altering her determination； and
then he formed the desperate resolution of writing to her husband； being
quite prepared to receive a bullet from a revolver； if need be。 His
letter only consisted of a few lines； as follows：
〃Monsieur： You must have a perfect horror of my name； but I am so
wretched； so overcome by misery that my only hope is in you； and；
therefore； I venture to request you to grant me an interview of only five
minutes。
〃I have the honor； etc。〃
The next day he received the reply：
〃Monsieur： I shall expect you to…morrow； Tuesday； at five o'clock。〃
As he went up the staircase； Francois Tessier's heart beat so violently
that he had to stop several times。 There was a dull and violent thumping
noise in his breast； as of some animal galloping； and he could breathe
only with difficulty； and had to hold on to the banisters； in order not
to fall。
He rang the bell on the third floor； and when a maid servant had opened
the door； he asked： 〃Does Monsieur Flamel live here？〃 〃Yes； monsieur。
Kindly come in。〃
He was shown into the drawing…room； he was alone； and waited； feeling
bewildered； as in the midst of a catastrophe； until a door opened； and a
man came in。 He was tall； serious and rather stout； and wore a black
frock coat； and pointed to a chair with his hand。 Francois Tessier sat
down； and then said； with choking breath： 〃MonsieurmonsieurI do not
know whether you know my namewhether you know〃
Monsieur Flamel interrupted him。 〃You need not tell it me； monsieur； I
know it。 My wife has spoken to me about you。〃 He spoke in the dignified
tone of voice of a good man who wishes to be severe； and with the
commonplace stateliness of an honorable man； and Francois Tessier
continued：
〃Well； monsieur； I want to say this： I am dying of grief； of remorse； of
shame； and I would like once； only once to kiss the child。〃
Monsieur Flamel got up and rang the bell； and when the servant came in；
he said： 〃Will you bring Louis here？〃 When she had gone out； they
remained face to face； without speaking； as they had nothing more to say
to one another； and waited。 Then； suddenly； a little boy of ten rushed
into the room and ran up to the man whom he believed to be his father；
but he stopped when he saw the stranger； and Monsieur Flamel kissed him
and said： 〃Now； go and kiss that gentleman； my dear。〃 And the child went
up to the stranger and looked at him。
Francois Tessier had risen。 He let his hat fall； and was ready to fall
himself as he looked at his son； while Monsieur Flamel had turned away；
from a feeling of delicacy； and was looking out of the window。
The child waited in surprise； but he picked up the hat and gave it to the
stranger。 Then Francois； taking the child up in his arms； began to kiss
him wildly all over his face； on his eyes； his cheeks； his mouth； his
hair； and the youngster； frightened at the shower of kisses； tried to
avoid them； turned away his head； and pushed away the man's face with his
little hands。 But suddenly Francois Tessier put him down and cried：
〃Good…by！ good…by！〃 And he rushed out of the room as if he had been a
thief。
MY UNCLE SOSTHENES
Some people are Freethinkers from sheer stupidity。 My Uncle Sosthenes
was one of these。 Some people are often religious for the same reason。
The very sight of a priest threw my uncle into a violent rage。 He would
shake his fist and make grimaces at him； and would then touch a piece of
iron when the priest's back was turned； forgetting that the latter action
showed a belief after all； the belief in the evil eye。 Now； when beliefs
are unreasonable； one should have all or none at all。 I myself am a
Freethinker； I revolt at all dogmas； but feel no anger toward places of
worship； be they Catholic； Apostolic； Roman； Protestant； Greek； Russian；
Buddhist； Jewish； or Mohammedan。
My uncle was a Freemason； and I used to declare that they are stupider
than old women devotees。 That is my opinion； and I maintain it； if we
must have any religion at all； the old one is good enough for me。
What is their object？ Mutual help to be obtained by tickling the palms
of each other's hands。 I see no harm in it； for they put into practice
the Christian precept： 〃Do unto others as ye would they should do unto
you。〃 The only difference consists in the tickling； but it does not seem
worth while to make such a fuss about lending a poor devil half a crown。
To all my arguments my uncle's reply used to be：
〃We are raising up a religion against a religion； Free Thought will kill
clericalism。 Freemasonry is the stronghold； of those who are demolishing
all deities。〃
〃Very well； my dear uncle；〃 I would replyin my heart I felt inclined to
say； 〃You old idiot！ it is just that which I am blaming you for。 Instead
of destroying； you are organizing competition； it is only a case of
lowering prices。 And then； if you admitted only Freethinkers among you；
I could understand it； but you admit anybody。 You have a number of
Catholics among you； even the leaders of the party。 Pius IX is said to
have been one of you before he became pope。 If you call a society with
such an organization a bulwark against clericalism； I think it is an
extremely weak one。〃
〃My dear boy；〃 my uncle would reply； with a wink； 〃we are most to be
dreaded in politics； slowly and surely we are everywhere undermining the
monarchical spirit。〃
Then I broke out： 〃Yes； you are very clever！ If you tell me that
Freemasonry is an election machine； I will grant it。 I will never deny
that it is used as a machine to control candidates of all shades； if you
say that it is only used to hoodwink people； to drill them to go to the
polls as soldiers are sent under fire； I agree with you； if you declare
that it is indispensable to all political ambitions because it changes
all its members into electoral agents； I should say to you： 'That is as
clear as the sun。' But when you tell me that it serves to undermine the
monarchical spirit； I can only laugh in your face。
〃Just consider that gigantic and secret democratic association which had
Prince Napoleon for its grand master under the Empire； which has the
Crown Prince for its grand master in Germany； the Czar's brother in
Russia； and to which the Prince of Wales and King Humbert； and nearly all
the crowned heads of the globe belong。〃
〃You are quite right；〃 my uncle said； 〃but all these persons are serving
our projects without guessing it。〃
I felt inclined to tell him he was talking a pack of nonsense。
It was； however； indeed a sight to see my uncle when he had a Freemason
to dinner。
On meeting they shook hands in a manner that was irresistibly funny； one
could see that they were going through a series of secret； mysterious
signs。
Then my uncle would take his friend into a corner to tell him something
important； an