CHAPTER XXXV. FRATERNITY.

d,— “Dictate,Monsieur.” Rochemortenamedthistheme:“HumanJustice.” HumanJustice!WhatwasItomakeofit?Blank,coldabstraction,unsuggestivetomeofoneinspiringideaandtherestoodM.Emanuel,sadasSaul,andsternasJoab,andtheretriumphedhisaccusers. AtthesetwoIlooked.IwasgatheringmycouragetotellthemthatIwouldneitherwritenorspeakanotherwordfortheirsatisfaction,thattheirthemedidnotsuit,northeirpresenceinspireme,andthat,notwithstanding,whoeverthrewtheshadowofadoubtonM.Emanuel’shonour,outragedthattruthofwhichtheyhadannouncedthemselvesthe—champions:Imeanttoutterallthis,Isay,whensuddenly,alightdartedonmemory. Thosetwofaceslookingoutoftheforestoflonghair,moustache,andwhisker—thosetwocoldyetbold,trustlessyetpresumptuousvisages—werethesamefaces,theverysamethat,projectedinfullgaslightfrombehindthepillarsofaportico,hadhalffrightenedmetodeathonthenightofmydesolatearrivalinVillette.These,Ifeltmorallycertain,weretheveryheroeswhohaddrivenafriendlessforeignerbeyondherreckoningandherstrength,chasedherbreathlessoverawholequarterofthetown. “Piousmentors!”thoughtI.“Pureguidesforyouth!IfHumanJustice’werewhatsheoughttobe,youtwowouldscarceholdyourpresentpost,orenjoyyourpresentcredit.” Anideaonceseized,Ifelltowork.“HumanJustice”rushedbeforemeinnovelguise,ared,randombeldame,witharmsakimbo.Isawherinherhouse,thedenofconfusion:servantscalledtoherforordersorhelpwhichshedidnotgivebeggarsstoodatherdoorwaitingandstarvingunnoticedaswarmofchildren,sickandquarrelsome,crawledroundherfeet,andyelledinherearsappealsfornotice,sympathy,cure,redress.Thehonestwomancaredfornoneofthesethings.Shehadawarmseatofherownbythefire,shehadherownsolaceinashortblackpipe,andabottleofMrs.Sweeny’ssoothingsyrupshesmokedandshesipped,andsheenjoyedherparadiseandwheneveracryofthesufferingsoulsaboutherpiercedherearstookeenly—myjollydameseizedthepokerorthehearth-brush:iftheoffenderwasweak,wronged,andsickly,sheeffectuallysettledhim:ifhewasstrong,lively,andviolent,sheonlymenaced,thenplungedherhandinherdeeppouch,andflungaliberalshowerofsugar-plums. Suchwasthesketchof“HumanJustice,”scratchedhurriedlyonpaper,andplacedattheserviceofMessrs.BoissecandRochemorte.M.Emanuelreaditovermyshoulder.Waitingnocomment,Icurtsiedtothetrio,andwithdrew. Afterschoolthatday,M.PaulandIagainmet.Ofcoursethemeetingdidnotatfirstrunsmooththerewasacrowtopluckwithhimthatforcedexaminationcouldnotbeimmediatelydigested.Acrabbeddialogueterminatedinmybeingcalled“unepetitemoqueuseetsans-coeur,”andinMonsieur’stemporarydeparture. Notwishinghimtogoquiteaway,onlydesiringheshouldfeelthatsuchatransportashehadthatdaygivenwayto,couldnotbeindulgedwithperfectimpunity,Iwasnotsorrytoseehim,soonafter,gardeningintheberceau.HeapproachedtheglassdoorIdrewnearalso.Wespokeofsomeflowersgrowingroundit.By-and-byMonsieurlaiddownhisspadeby-and-byherecommencedconversation,passedtoothersubjects,andatlasttouchedapointofinterest. Consciousthathisproceedingofthatdaywasspeciallyopentoachargeofextravagance,M.Paulhalfapologizedhehalfregretted,too,thefitfulnessofhismoodsatalltimes,yethehintedthatsomeallowanceoughttobemadeforhim.“But,”saidhe,“Icanhardlyexpectitatyourhands,MissLucyyouknowneitherme,normyposition,normyhistory.” Hishistory.ItookupthewordatonceIpursuedtheidea. “No,Monsieur,”Irejoined.“Ofcourse,asyousay,Iknowneitheryourhistory,noryourposition,noryoursacrifices,noranyofyoursorrows,ortrials,oraffections,orfidelities.Oh,no!Iknownothingaboutyouyouareformealtogetherastranger.” “Hein?”hemurmured,archinghisbrowsinsurprise. “Youknow,Monsieur,Ionlyseeyouinclasse—stern,dogmatic,hasty,imperious.Ionlyhearofyouintownasactiveandwilful,quicktooriginate,hastytolead,butslowtopersuade,andhardtobend.Amanlikeyou,withoutties,canhavenoattachmentswithoutdependants,noduties.Allwe,withwhomyoucomeincontact,aremachines,whichyouthrusthereandthere,inconsiderateoftheirfeelings.Youseekyourrecreationsinpublic,bythelightoftheeveningchandelier:thisschoolandyondercollegeareyourworkshops,whereyoufabricatethewarecalledpupils.Idon’tsomuchasknowwhereyouliveitisnaturaltotakeitforgrantedthatyouhavenohome,andneednone.” “Iamjudged,”saidhe.“YouropinionofmeisjustwhatIthoughtitwas.ForyouIamneitheramannoraChristian.Youseemevoidofaffectionandreligion,unattachedbyfriendorfamily,unpilotedbyprincipleorfaith.Itiswell,Mademoisellesuchisourrewardinthislife.” “Youareaphilosopher,Monsieuracynicphilosopher”(andIlookedath