Conscience | Page 6

sir."
"Come to the table; the beer is good to-day."
"Thank you; I am very well here."
Without taking the chair that Crozat designated, he leaned against the
wall. He was a tall, solid man about thirty, with tawny hair falling on
the collar of his coat, a long, curled beard, a face energetic, but troubled
and wan, to which the pale blue eyes gave an expression of hardness
that was accentuated by a prominent jaw and a decided air. A Gaul, a
true Gaul of ancient times, strong, bold, and resolute.
Brigard continued:
"It is incontestable"--this was his formula, because everything he said
was incontestable to him, simply because he said it--"it is incontestable
that in the struggle for existence the dogma of conscience must be
established, its only sanction being the performance of duty and inward
satisfaction--"
"Duty accomplished toward whom?" interrupted Saniel.

"Toward one's self."
"Then begin by stating what are our duties, and codify what is good and
what is bad."
"That is easy," some one replied.
"Easy if you admit a certain innate regard for human life, for property,
and for the family. But you must acknowledge that not all men have
this regard. How many believe that it is not a fault to run away with the
wife of a friend, not a crime to appropriate something that they want, or
to kill an enemy! Where are the duties of those who reason and feel in
this way? What is their inward satisfaction worth? This is why I will
not admit that conscience is the proper guide of our actions."
There were several exclamations at this, which Brigard checked.
"What guide, then, shall men obey?" he demanded.
"Force, which is the last word of the philosophy of life "
"That which leads to a wise and progressive extermination. Is this what
you desire?"
"Why not? I do not shrink from an extermination that relieves humanity
of idlers that it drags about without power to advance or to free itself,
finally sinking under the load. Is it not better for the world to be rid of
such people, who obstruct the advancement of others?"
"At least the idea is bizarre coming from a doctor," interrupted Crozat,
"since it would put an end to hospitals."
"Not at all; I would preserve them for the study of monsters."
"In placing society on this antagonistic footing," said Brigard, "you
destroy society itself, which is founded on reciprocity, on good
fellowship; and in doing so you can create for the strong a state of
suspicion that paralyzes them. Carthage and Venice practised the
selection by force, and destroyed themselves."

"You speak of force, my dear Saniel," interrupted a voice; "where do
you get that--the force of things, the tatum? There is no beginning, no
will; events decide for us climate, temperament, environment."
"Then," replied Saniel, "there is no responsibility, and this instrument
conscience, that should decide everything, is good for nothing. You
need not consider consequences. Success or defeat may yet be
immaterial, for the accomplishment of an act that you have believed
condemnable may serve the race, while another that you have believed
beneficent may prove injurious; from which it follows that intentions
only should be judged, and that no one but God can sound human
hearts to their depths."
He began to laugh.
"Do you believe that? Is that the conclusion at which you have
arrived?"
A waiter entered, carrying pitchers of beer on a tray, and the discussion
was necessarily interrupted, every one drawing up to the table where
Crozat filled the glasses, and the conversation took a more private turn.
Saniel shook hands with Brigard, who received him somewhat coldly;
then he approached Glady with the manifest intention of detaining him,
but Glady had said that he was obliged to leave, so Saniel said that he
could remain no longer, and had only dropped in on passing.
When they were both gone Brigard turned to Crozat and Nougarede,
who were near him, and declared that Saniel made him uneasy.
"He believes himself stronger than life," he said, "because he is sound
and intelligent. He must take care that he does not go too far!"

CHAPTER II
THE RICH MAN'S REFUSAL

When Saniel and Glady reached the street, the rain that had fallen since
morning had ceased, and the asphalt shone clear and glittering like a
mirror.
"The walking is good," Saniel remarked.
"It will rain again," responded Glady, looking at the sky.
"I think not." It was evident that Glady wished to take a cab, but as
none passed he was obliged to walk with Saniel.
"Do you know," he said, "that you have wounded Brigard?"
"I regret it sincerely; but the salon of our friend Crozat is not yet a
church, and I do not suppose