B. “Economical necessities? Yes, but not wholly so. One is usually mistaken if one tries to reduce complicated phenomena to one single factor. For instance: Did the crusades take place because of economic causes?”
C. “I should like to make one observation. Morality is nothing else than the result of the recognized conditions of collective life. When two or more are dependent on one another, then the conduct which promotes their welfare is elevated to the rank of a moral rule, and whatever impedes it is proscribed as immoral. The nations have treated one another unlovingly and immorally, because they have as yet no realization of their interdependence. Have you, for instance, ever entered into any ethical relationship with the inhabitants of Mars?”
In the corner where the two Russian widows were sitting with their suitors, the marchese whispering in his soft fervid Italian:—
“Annette, gracious lady, what have you done to me? The blood is storming through my veins as if I were a boy. I quite forget my advancing years. You can make me forget everything.... I could even renounce my ambition in order to give myself up forever to the sweet intoxication which I find in your eyes. But no, just for your sake I will get as much glory as I possibly can.... The man who is to be worthy of you must be like the sun in the radiance of his glorious power, the head that rests in your lap must be crowned with laurel. You, madonna, must be surrounded with splendor, you must be raised to the highest rank so that all may look up to you in worship and envy. A world must tremble before the man who trembles before you.... There is no price which I would not pay, no deed that I would not venture, no multitude that I would not sacrifice relentlessly, merely to place one more pearl in your diadem, Monna Anna.”
The little Baltic widow quivered under this avalanche of sweet-brutal cinquecento phrases.
Baron Gaston de la Rochère came up and joined the group, putting an end to this sentimental cooing:—
“I have just arrived. Am I very late? I don’t understand the English and German speeches and the French guests present are distasteful to me. But I came to look you up, for I must share my happiness with you. I have just received by the evening mail some wonderful news from Paris. Just imagine: things are coming to a climax. The Ministry—that bunch of heretics—has fallen. Perhaps God will take his France under his protection again. The situation is so threatening that external or domestic war may break out any minute, and this is the favorable moment to proclaim royalty. My friends write me that everything is all ready, that even a part of the garrison is won over to swear fealty to the standard of the king—in short, great events are impending. The genius of my glorious country has awakened once more. Of course, you already know all about these circumstances, Marchese di Rinotti?”
“Of course, I know what is taking place and what is proposed; but weeks must elapse before anything decisive can come about. The men in charge must reckon with the resistance of the democratic parties.”
“But the men in charge will act with vigor, Marchese.”
“Well, I hope so, Baron.”