men who, instead of wishing to exterminate their enemies, were planning
to give them something better."

Tchernoff remained silent a few minutes, smiling ironically at the
picture which his imagination was calling forth.

"In Berlin, the masses are expressing their enthusiasm in the lofty
phraseology befitting a superior people. Those in the lowest classes,
accustomed to console themselves for humiliations with a gross
materialism, are now crying 'Nach Paris! We are going to drink champagne
gratis!' The pietistic burgher, ready to do anything to attain a new
honor, and the aristocracy which has given the world the greatest
scandals of recent years, are also shouting, 'Nach Paris!' To them Paris
is the Babylon of the deadly sin, the city of the Moulin Rouge and the
restaurants of Montmartre, the only places that they know. . . . And my
comrades of the Social-Democracy, they are also cheering, but to another
tune.--'To-morrow! To St. Petersburg! Russian ascendency, the menace
of civilization, must be obliterated!' The Kaiser waving the tyranny of
another country as a scarecrow to his people! . . . What a joke!"

And the loud laugh of the Russian sounded through the night like the
noise of wooden clappers.

"We are more civilized than the Germans," he said, regaining his
self-control.

Desnoyers, who had been listening with great interest, now gave a start
of surprise, saying to himself, "This Tchernoff has been drinking."

"Civilization," continued the Socialist, "does not consist merely in