Красное и черное

The Shadow of the Guillotine

           

           "Butifthereisacourt,andit’saquestionoflosingorwinningaportfolio,myworthysalonpeoplewillcommitcrimesexactlysimilartothose,whichtheneedofgettingadinnerinspiredthosetwofelonstoperpetrate.

           "Thereisnosuchthingasnaturallaw,theexpressionisnothingmorethanasillyanachronismwellworthyoftheadvocate-generalwhoharriedmetheotherday,andwhosegrandfatherwasenrichedbyoneoftheconfiscationsofLouisXIV.Thereisnosuchthingasright,exceptwhenthereisalawtoforbidacertainthingunderpainofpunishment.

           "Beforelawexisted,theonlynaturalthingwasthestrengthofthelion,ortheneedofacreaturewhowascoldorhungry,toputitinoneword,need.No,thepeoplewhomtheworldhonoursaremerelyvillainswhohavehadthegoodfortunenottohavebeencaughtred-handed.Theprosecutorwhomsocietyputonmytrackwasenrichedbyaninfamousact.Ihavecommittedamurder,andIamjustlycondemned,buttheValenodwhohascondemnedme,isbyreasonaloneofthatverydeed,ahundredtimesmoreharmfultosociety.

           "Well,"addedJuliensadlybutnotangrily,"inspiteofhisavarice,myfatherisworthmorethanallthosemen.Heneverlovedme.ThedisgraceIbringuponhimbyaninfamousdeathhasprovedthelaststraw.Thatfearoflackingmoney,thatdistortedviewofthewickednessofmankind,whichiscalledavarice,makehimfindatremendousconsolationandsenseofsecurityinasumofthreeorfourhundredlouis,whichIhavebeenabletoleavehim.SomeSunday,afterdinner,hewillshewhisgoldtoalltheenviousmeninVerrières.

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