'Napoleon Buonaparte,' said the young lady immediately.
'Do not name him,' said Pitt. 'He wore a brilliant crown, but he got it out of the dirt of low passions and cold-hearted selfishness. His name will be remembered, but as a splendid example of wickedness. Name some other.'
'Name one yourself,' said Betty. 'I have succeeded so ill.'
'Name them all,' said Pitt. 'Take all the conquerors, from Rameses the Great down to our time; take all the statesmen, from Moses and onward. Take Apelles, at the head of a long list of wonderful painters; philosophers, from Socrates to Francis Bacon; discoverers and inventors, from the man who first made musical instruments, in the lifetime of Adam our forefather, to Watt and the steam engine. Take any or all of them; we are very glad they lived and worked, we are the better for remembering them; but I ask you, what are they the better for it?'
This appeal, which was evidently meant in deep earnest, moved the mind of the young lady with so great astonishment that she looked at Pitt as at a lusus naturae. But he was quite serious and simply matter of fact in his way of putting things. He looked at her, waiting for an answer, but got none.
'We speak of Alexander, and praise him to the skies, him of Macedon, I mean. What is that, do you think, to Alexander now?'
'If it is nothing to him, then what is the use of being great?' said
Miss Frere in her bewilderment.
'You are coming back to my question.'
There ensued a pause, during which the stitches of embroidery were taken slowly.
'What do you intend to do with your life, Mr. Dallas, since pleasure and fame are ruled out?' the young lady asked.