THE EQUINOX
I am come to thank you for your gift, and, at the same time,
to testify to my astonishment and disappointment.”
Mr. Mapro_te. “ Your disappointment, sir! Pray explain
yourself, I do not understand you.”
“Jt isa lively regret to me, sir, to see you make mistakes
which I have myself at one time made. But I had then, at
least, the excuse of inexperience and youth. Your pamphlet
lacks conviction, because it lacks discrimination. Your inten-
tion was doubtless to protest against errors in belief, and
abuses in morality: and behold, it is the belief and the
morality themselves that you attack! The exaltation which
overflows in your pamphlet may indeed do you the greatest
harm, and some of your best friends must have experienced
anxiety with regard to the state of your health... .”
“Oh, no doubt; they have said, and say still, that I am
mad. But it is nothing new that believers must undergo the
folly of the cross. I am exalted, sir, because you yourself
would be so in my place, because it is impossible to remain
calm in the presence of prodigies. . . .”
“Oh, oh, you speak of prodigies, thatinterests me. Come,
between ourselves, and in all good faith, of what prodigies are
you speaking ?”
“Eh, what prodigies should they be but those of the
great prophet Elias, returned to earth under the name of
Pierre Michel ?”
“Tunderstand; you mean Eugéne Vintras. I have heard his
prophecies spoken of. But does he really perform miracles
?”
[Here Mr. Madrolle jumps in his chair, raises his eyes and
his hands to heaven, and finally smiles with a condescension
which seems to sound the depths of pity.]
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