第26章

Therewascommotionontheplatform，longwhisperings，muchparleying。Atlastthecouncillorgotup。TheyknewnowthathisnamewasLieuvain，andinthecrowdthenamewaspassedfromonetotheother。Afterhehadcollatedafewpages，andbentoverthemtoseebetter，hebegan——

“Gentlemen!MayIbepermittedfirstofall(beforeaddressingyouontheobjectofourmeetingto-day，andthissentimentwill，Iamsure，besharedbyyouall)，mayIbepermitted，Isay，topayatributetothehigheradministration，tothegovernmenttothemonarch，gentlemen，oursovereign，tothatbelovedking，towhomnobranchofpublicorprivateprosperityisamatterofindifference，andwhodirectswithahandatoncesofirmandwisethechariotofthestateamidtheincessantperilsofastormysea，knowing，moreover，howtomakepeacerespectedaswellaswar，industry，commerce，agriculture，andthefinearts？“

“Iought，“saidRodolphe，“togetbackalittlefurther。“

“Why？“saidEmma。

Butatthismomentthevoiceofthecouncillorrosetoanextraordinarypitch。Hedeclaimed——

“Thisisnolongerthetime，gentlemen，whencivildiscordensanguinedourpublicplaces，whenthelandlord，thebusiness-man，theworking-manhimself，fallingasleepatnight，lyingdowntopeacefulsleep，trembledlestheshouldbeawakenedsuddenlybythenoiseofincendiarytocsins，whenthemostsubversivedoctrinesaudaciouslysappedfoundations。“

“Well，someonedowntheremightseeme，“Rodolpheresumed，“thenIshouldhavetoinventexcusesforafortnight；andwithmybadreputation——“

“Oh，youareslanderingyourself，“saidEmma。

“No!Itisdreadful，Iassureyou。“

“But，gentlemen，“continuedthecouncillor，“if，banishingfrommymemorytheremembranceofthesesadpictures，Icarrymyeyesbacktotheactualsituationofourdearcountry，whatdoIseethere？Everywherecommerceandtheartsareflourishing；

everywherenewmeansofcommunication，likesomanynewarteriesinthebodyofthestate，establishwithinitnewrelations。Ourgreatindustrialcentreshaverecoveredalltheiractivity；

religion，moreconsolidated，smilesinallhearts；ourportsarefull，confidenceisbornagain，andFrancebreathesoncemore!“

“Besides，“addedRodolphe，“perhapsfromtheworld’spointofviewtheyareright。“

“Howso？“sheasked。

“What!“saidhe。“Doyounotknowthattherearesoulsconstantlytormented？Theyneedbyturnstodreamandtoact，thepurestpassionsandthemostturbulentjoys，andthustheyflingthemselvesintoallsortsoffantasies，offollies。“

Thenshelookedathimasonelooksatatravellerwhohasvoyagedoverstrangelands，andwenton——

“Wehavenoteventhisdistraction，wepoorwomen!“

“Asaddistraction，forhappinessisn’tfoundinit。“

“Butisiteverfound？“sheasked。

“Yes；onedayitcomes，“heanswered。

“Andthisiswhatyouhaveunderstood，“saidthecouncillor。

“You，farmers，agriculturallabourers!youpacificpioneersofaworkthatbelongswhollytocivilization!you，menofprogressandmorality，youhaveunderstood，Isay，thatpoliticalstormsareevenmoreredoubtablethanatmosphericdisturbances!“

“Itcomesoneday，“repeatedRodolphe，“onedaysuddenly，andwhenoneisdespairingofit。Thenthe