human
You are a brave fellow, Monnier. Lebeau owes you a good turn. But for your cry, 'We are not assassins,' the Pole might not have been left without support. No atmosphere is so infectious as that in which we breathe the same air of revenge: when the violence of one man puts into action the anger or suspicion of others, they become like a pack of hounds, which follow the spring of the first hound, whether on the wild boar or their own master. Even I, who am by no means hot-headed, had my hand on my case-knife when the word 'assassin' rebuked and disarmed me.
gpt
Nevertheless, said Monnier, gloomily,
human
I half repent the impulse which made me interfere to save that man. Better he should die than live to betray the cause we allowed him to lead.
gpt
Nay, mon ami, speaking candidly, we must confess that he never from the first pretended to advocate the cause for which you conspired. On the contrary, he always said that with the fall of the Empire our union would cease, and each become free to choose his own way towards his own after- objects.
human
Yes, answered Armand, reluctantly;
gpt
How?
human
I told him that the man who takes the first step in a revolution, and persuades others to go along with him, cannot in safety stand still or retreat when the next step is to be taken. It is 'en avant' or 'a la lanterne.' So it shall be with him. Shall a fellow-being avail himself of the power over my mind which he derives from superior education or experience,--break into wild fragments my life, heretofore tranquil, orderly, happy,--make use of my opinions, which were then but harmless desires, to serve his own purpose, which was hostile to the opinions he roused into action,--say to me, 'Give yourself up to destroy the first obstacle in the way of securing a form of society which your inclinations prefer,' and then, that first obstacle destroyed, cry, 'Halt! I go with you no further; I will not help you to piece together the life I have induced you to shatter; I will not aid you to substitute for the society that pained you the society that would please; I leave you, struggling, bewildered, maddened, in the midst of chaos within and without you'? Shall a fellow-being do this, and vanish with a mocking cry: 'Tool! I have had enough of thee; I cast thee aside as worthless lumber'? Ah! let him beware! The tool is of iron, and can be shaped to edge and point. The passion with which this rough eloquence was uttered, and the fierce sinister expression that had come over a countenance habitually open and manly, even when grave and stern, alarmed and startled Le Noy.
gpt
Pooh, my friend! he said, rather falteringly,
human
Armand, _mon frere_! well met; strange times, eh? Come and discuss them at the cafe de Lyon yonder over a bowl of punch. I'll stand treat.
gpt
Agreed, dear Charles.
human
And if this monsieur is a friend of yours, perhaps he will join us.
gpt
You are too obliging, Monsieur, answered Le Noy, not ill-pleased to get rid of his excited companion;
human
Who is the friend? asked Charles;
gpt
I don't remember to have seen him with thee before.
human
He belongs to the medical craft--a good patriot and a kind man--attends the poor gratuitously. Yes, Charles, these are strange times; what dost thou think will come of them?
gpt
What will come of these times? I will tell thee. National deliverance and regeneration through the ascendency of the National Guard.
human
Eh? I don't take,
gpt
Probably not, answered Charles, with an air of compassionate conceit;
human
He tapped his forehead significantly.
gpt
At this custom-house, ideas are examined before they are passed.
human
Though I myself descend from a county family.