the main, simply to do as he had done.

"Then, logically, this is the end of France, eh?" Boutan remarked
maliciously. "The number of births ever increases in Germany, Russia, and
elsewhere, while it decreases in a terrible way among us. Numerically the
rank we occupy in Europe is already very inferior to what it formerly
was; and yet number means power more than ever nowadays. It has been
calculated that an average of four children per family is necessary in
order that population may increase and the strength of a nation be
maintained. You have but one child; you are a bad patriot."

At this Beauchene flew into a tantrum, quite beside himself, and gasped:
"I a bad patriot! I, who kill myself with hard work! I, who even export
French machinery! . . . Yes, certainly I see families, acquaintances
around me who may well allow themselves four children; and I grant that
they deserve censure when they have no families. But as for me, my dear
doctor, it is impossible. You know very well that in my position I
absolutely can't."

Then, for the hundredth time, he gave his reasons, relating how the works
had narrowly escaped being cut into pieces, annihilated, simply because
he had unfortunately been burdened with a sister. Seraphine had behaved
abominably. There had been first her dowry; next her demands for the
division of the property on their father's death; and the works had been
saved only by means of a large pecuniary sacrifice which had long
crippled their prosperity. And people imagined that he would be as
imprudent as his father! Why, if Maurice should have a brother or a
sister, he might hereafter find himself in the same dire embarrassment,
in which the family property might already have been destroyed. No, no!
He would not expose the boy to the necessity of dividing the inheritance