Desnoyers was listening to his cousin with astonishment and at the same time looking at Argensola who, with a flutter of his eyes, seemed to be saying to him, “He is mad!  These Germans are simply mad with pride.”

Meanwhile, the professor, unable to curb his enthusiasm, continued expounding the grandeur of his race.  From his viewpoint, the providential Kaiser had shown inexplicable weakenings.  He was too good and too kind.  “Deliciae generis humani,” as had said Professor Lasson, another of Hartrott’s masters.  Able to overthrow everything with his annihilating power, the Emperor was limiting himself merely to maintaining peace.  But the nation did not wish to stop there, and was pushing its leader until it had him started.  It was useless now to put on the brakes.  “He who does not advance recedes";—­that was the cry of PanGermanism to the Emperor.  He must press on in order to conquer the entire world.

“And now war comes,” continued the pedant.  “We need the colonies of the others, even though Bismarck, through an error of his stubborn old age, exacted nothing at the time of universal distribution, letting England and France get possession of the best lands.  We must control all countries that have Germanic blood and have been civilized by our forbears.”

Hartrott enumerated these countries.  Holland and Belgium were German.  France, through the Franks, was one-third Teutonic blood.  Italy. . . .  Here the professor hesitated, recalling the fact that this nation was still an ally, certainly a little insecure, but still united by diplomatic bonds.  He mentioned, nevertheless, the Longobards and other races coming from the North.  Spain and Portugal had been populated by the ruddy Goth and also belonged to the dominant race.  And since the majority of the nations of America were of Spanish and Portuguese origin, they should also be included in this recovery.

“It is a little premature to think of these last nations just yet,” added the Doctor modestly, “but some day the hour of justice will sound.  After our continental triumph, we shall have time to think of their fate. . . .  North America also should receive our civilizing influence, for there are living millions of Germans who have created its greatness.”

He was talking of the future conquests as though they were marks of distinction with which his country was going to favor other countries.  These were to continue living politically the same as before with their individual governments, but subject to the Teutons, like minors requiring the strong hand of a master.  They would form the Universal United States, with an hereditary and all-powerful president—­the Emperor of Germany—­receiving all the benefits of Germanic culture, working disciplined under his industrial direction. . . .  But the world is ungrateful, and human badness always opposes itself to progress.