"Good people—yes; but they do not know what life is! To be blamed by them is just the same to me as if I were to be blamed by an Egyptian mummy come to life for the purpose. I should answer: 'You do not understand anything about it; go and wrap yourself up again.' Is it not strange that you do not think as I do—you, my brother?"
Jean stroked the hand which was raised in front of him to make a screen.
"Even mummies can judge of certain things of our time, my darling—the things which are of all times."
"Oh! how serious you are. Come now, where was I wrong? Was it in going for a walk? In not looking away? In answering a greeting? In obeying my father, who told me to come and stay?"
"No; assuredly not!"
"What harm have I done?"
"None. I have danced with many German girls. You can acknowledge an officer's greeting."
"Then I did right?"
"As a fact, yes. But there are so many sorrows around us—real sorrows, and so noble. You must remember that they all come to life again at a word, or a gesture."
"I shall never consider that. Since what I do is not wrong, no one shall ever stop me. Do you hear?"