They had known one another in the country. The professor, taking a walk beside the sluggish6 river, had often noted7, on a green hillside, the slated8 roof of the chateau9 inhabited by Monsieur de La Barge and his family. Monsieur de La Barge himself he saw less frequently, for the latter was on visiting terms with the aristocracy of the countryside, without being sufficiently10 grand himself to receive the humbler folk. In the country he knew Monsieur Bergeret only on those critical days when one or another of his sons was going in for some examination; but now, in Paris, he wished to be friendly, and he made an effort to be so.
“Dear Monsieur Bergeret, I must first of all congratulate you.”
“Please do not trouble,” replied Monsieur Bergeret, with a little gesture of refusal that Monsieur de La Barge quite wrongly interpreted as inspired by modesty11.
“I beg your pardon, Monsieur Bergeret, a professorship at the Sorbonne is a much-coveted position, and one that you well deserve.”
“How is your son Adhémar?” inquired Monsieur Bergeret, remembering the name as that of a candidate for the bachelor’s degree who had interested in his incompetence12 the authorities of civil, military and ecclesiastical society.
“Adhémar? He is doing well, very well; a little wild perhaps, but what would you have? He has nothing to do. In some ways it might be better for him to have some settled occupation. However, he is very young; there is plenty of time; he takes after me; he will settle down once he has found his vocation13.”
“Didn’t he do a little demonstrating at Auteuil?” asked Monsieur Bergeret gently.
“For the army, for the army,” answered Monsieur de La Barge, “and I must confess that I could not find it in my heart to blame him. It can’t be helped. I am connected with the army through my father-in-law, the general, my brothers-in-law, and my cousin, the commandant.”
He was too modest to mention his father, the eldest14 of the Panneton brothers, who was also connected with the army through the supply department, and who, in 1872, as the result of an annoying charge in the police courts, was given a light sentence, for having supplied to the Army of the East, which was marching through the snow, shoes with cardboard soles.
He died ten years later, in his chateau of La Barge, rich and honoured.
“I was brought up to venerate15 the army,” continued Monsieur Panneton de La Barge. “When quite a child I worshipped a uniform. It is a family tradition. I do not attempt to hide the fact that I hold by the old style of things. I can’t help it, it is in my blood. I am a Monarchist and authoritarian16 by temperament17. I am a Royalist. Now the army is all that is left us of the Monarchy18; all that is left of a glorious past. It consoles us for the present and fills us with hope for the future.”
Monsieur Bergeret might have interposed with some observations of historical interest; but he did not do so, and Monsieur de La Barge continued:
“That is why I regard those who attack the army as criminals, and those who would dare to interfere19 with it as fools.”
“When Napoleon wished to praise one of the plays of Luce de Lancival,” replied the professor, “he called it a headquarters tragedy. May I say that your philosophy is that of a General Staff? However, seeing that we live under the rule of liberty, it may perhaps be as well to conform to its customs. When one lives with men who have the habit of speech one must accustom20 oneself to hear anything. Do not hope that the right to discuss any subject will ever again be denied in France. Consider, too, that the army is by no means immutable21; nothing in the world is that. Institutions can exist only by ceaseless modifications22. The army has undergone such transformations23 in the course of its existence that it will probably undergo even greater changes in the future, and it is conceivable that in twenty years’ time it will be quite another thing than what it is to-day.”
“I prefer to tell you at once,” replied Monsieur Panneton de La Barge, “that where the army is concerned I admit of no discussion. I repeat, it must not be interfered24 with. It represents, as it were, the battle-axe, and as such it must not be touched. During the last session of the Conseil Général of which I have the honour to be president, the Radical-Socialist minority put forward a vote in favour of two years’ service. I protested against so unpatriotic a suggestion. I had no difficulty in proving a two years’ service would mean the end of the army. You cannot make an infantryman in two years, much less a cavalryman25. Perhaps you will style those who clamour for the two years’ service reformers. I call them wreckers. And it is the same with all other reforms. They are machinations directed against the army. If only the Socialists26 would say that their desire is to replace the army by a vast national guard, they would at least be honest.”
“The Socialists,” replied Monsieur Bergeret, “are against all attempts at territorial27 conquest; they propose to organize militia28 solely29 for purposes of home defence. They do not hide their views, they spread them broadcast. And possibly their views are worth some examination. You need not fear that their desires will be too quickly realized. All progress is slow and uncertain, and is followed, more often than not, by retrograde movements. The advance toward a better order of things is vague and indeterminate. The profound and innumerable forces which chain man to the past cause him to cherish its errors, superstitions30, prejudices and cruelties as precious symbols of his security. Salutary innovation terrifies him. Prudence31 makes him imitative, and he dare not quit the tumble-down shelter that protected his fathers and which is about to fall in upon him. Do you not agree with me, Monsieur Panneton?” inquired Monsieur Bergeret, with a charming smile.
Monsieur Panneton de La Barge’s reply was that he defended the army. He represented it as misunderstood, persecuted32 and menaced, and in rising tones he continued:
“This campaign in favour of the Traitor33, obstinate34 and enthusiastic as it is, whatever may be the intentions of its leaders, has a certain visible and undeniable effect. It weakens the army and injures its chiefs.”
“I am going to tell you some very simple facts,” replied Monsieur Bergeret. “If the army is attacked in the person of certain of its chiefs, that is not the fault of those who have asked for justice; it is the fault of those who have so long refused it. It is not the fault of those who demanded an explanation, but of those who have obstinately35 avoided one with extraordinary stupidity and abominable36 wickedness. After all, if crimes have been committed the evil is not that they have been made known but that they have been committed. They have concealed37 themselves in all their enormity and in all their deformity. They were not recognizable; they passed over the crowds like dark clouds. Did you imagine they would never burst? Did you think the sun would never shine again upon the classic land of Justice, upon the country that taught the Law to Europe and the world?”
“Don’t let us speak of the Affair,” replied Monsieur de La Barge. “I know nothing of it. I wish to know nothing. I did not read a word of the Inquiry38. Commandant de La Barge, my cousin, assured me that Dreyfus was guilty. That affirmation was enough for me. I came, dear Monsieur Bergeret, to ask your advice about my son Adhémar, whose prospects39 in life are now engaging my attention. A year of military service is a long time for a young fellow of good family. Three years would be nothing short of disaster. It is essential to find a means of exemption40. I had thought of letting him take his degree in literature, but I’m afraid it is too difficult. Adhémar is intelligent, but he has no taste for literature.”
“Well,” said Monsieur Bergeret, “try the School of Higher Commercial Studies; or the Commercial Institute, or the School of Commerce. I do not know if the Watchmakers’ College at Cluses would still furnish means of exemption. It used not to be difficult, I’ve been told, to obtain the certificate.”
“But Adhémar cannot very well make watches,” replied Monsieur de La Barge with a certain modesty.
“Then try the School of Oriental Languages,” said Monsieur Bergeret obligingly. “It was an excellent institution to begin with.”
“It has gone down since,” sighed Monsieur de La Barge.
“It still has its good points. What about Tamil, for instance?”
“Tamil, do you think?”
“Or Malagasy.”
“Malagasy, perhaps.”
“There is also a certain Polynesian language which was spoken, at the beginning of this century, by only one old yellow woman. She died, leaving behind her a parrot. A German scholar collected a few words of the language from the parrot, and from these he compiled a dictionary. Perhaps this language is still taught at the School of Oriental Languages. I should advise your son to find out.”
Upon this advice, Monsieur Panneton de La Barge made his adieux and thoughtfully took his departure.
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1
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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importunate
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| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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slated
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| 用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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incompetence
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| n.不胜任，不称职 | |
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vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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venerate
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| v.尊敬，崇敬，崇拜 | |
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authoritarian
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| n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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accustom
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| vt.使适应，使习惯 | |
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immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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modifications
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| n.缓和( modification的名词复数 )；限制；更改；改变 | |
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transformations
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| n.变化( transformation的名词复数 )；转换；转换；变换 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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25
cavalryman
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| 骑兵 | |
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socialists
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| 社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 ) | |
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territorial
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| adj.领土的，领地的 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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exemption
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| n.豁免，免税额，免除 | |
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