Красное и черное

The Ball

           

           "HasnotIsraelBertucciogotmorecharacterthanallthosenobleVenetians?"saidourrebelliousplebeiantohimself,"andyetthosearethepeoplewhosenobilitygoesbacktotheyearsevenhundred,acenturybeforeCharlemagne,whilethecreamofthenobilityatM.deRitz’sballto-nightonlygoesback,andthatratherlamely,tothethirteenthcentury.Well,inspiteofallthenobleVenetianswhosebirthmakessogreat,itisIsraelBertucciowhomoneremembers.

           "Aconspiracyannihilatesalltitlesconferredbysocialcaprice.There,amantakesforhiscresttherankthatisgivenhimbythewayinwhichhefacesdeath.Theintellectitselflosessomeofitspower.

           "WhatwouldDantonhavebeento-dayinthisageoftheValenodsandtheRênals?NotevenadeputyforthePublicProsecutor.

           "WhatamIsaying?Hewouldhavesoldhimselftothepriests,hewouldhavebeenaminister,forafterallthegreatDantondidsteal.Mirabeaualsosoldhimself.NapoleonstolemillionsinItaly,otherwisehewouldhavebeenstoppedshortinhiscareerbypovertylikePichegru.OnlyLaFayetterefrainedfromstealing.Oughtonetosteal,oughtonetoselloneself?"thoughtJulien.Thisquestionpulledhimupshort.Hepassedtherestofthenightinreadingthehistoryoftherevolution.

           Whenhewrotehislettersinthelibrarythefollowingday,hismindwasstillconcentratedonhisconversationwithcountAltamira.

           "Asamatteroffact,"hesaidtohimselfafteralongreverie,"IftheSpanishLiberalshadnotinjuredtheirnationbycrimestheywouldnothavebeenclearedoutaseasilyastheywere.

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