progress of reason through science. I believe that the pursuit of
truth, through science, is the divine ideal which man should propose
to himself. I believe that all is illusion and vanity outside the
treasure of truths slowly accumulated, and which will never again be
lost. I believe that the sum of these truths, always increasing, will
at last confer on man incalculable power and peace, if not happiness.
Yes, I believe in the final triumph of life."

And with a broader sweep of the hand that took in the vast horizon, as
if calling on these burning plains in which fermented the saps of all
existences to bear him witness, he added:

"But the continual miracle, my child, is life. Only open your eyes,
and look."

She shook her head.

"It is in vain that I open my eyes; I cannot see everything. It is
you, master, who are blind, since you do not wish to admit that there
is beyond an unknown realm which you will never enter. Oh, I know you
are too intelligent to be ignorant of that! Only you do not wish to
take it into account; you put the unknown aside, because it would
embarrass you in your researches. It is in vain that you tell me to
put aside the mysterious; to start from the known for the conquest of
the unknown. I cannot; the mysterious at once calls me back and
disturbs me."

He listened to her, smiling, glad to see her become animated, while he
smoothed her fair curls with his hand.