“I have lived ten years in Germany,” he continued, connecting up his words, now that he found himself listened to.  “I was daily correspondent for a paper in Berlin and I know these people.  Passing along these thronged boulevards, I have been seeing in my imagination what must be happening there at this hour.  They, too, are singing and shouting with enthusiasm as they wave their flags.  On the outside, they seem just alike—­but oh, what a difference within! . . .  Last night the people beset a few babblers in the boulevard who were yelling, ’To Berlin!’—­a slogan of bad memories and worse taste.  France does not wish conquests; her only desire is to be respected, to live in peace without humiliations or disturbances.  To-night two of the mobilized men said on leaving, ‘When we enter Germany we are going to make it a republic!’ . . .  A republic is not a perfect thing, but it is better than living under an irresponsible monarchy by the grace of God.  It at least presupposes tranquillity and absence of the personal ambitions that disturb life.  I was impressed by the generous thought of these laboring men who, instead of wishing to exterminate their enemies, were planning to give them something better.”

Tchernoff remained silent a few minutes, smiling ironically at the picture which his imagination was calling forth.

“In Berlin, the masses are expressing their enthusiasm in the lofty phraseology befitting a superior people.  Those in the lowest classes, accustomed to console themselves for humiliations with a gross materialism, are now crying ’Nach Paris!  We are going to drink champagne gratis!’ The pietistic burgher, ready to do anything to attain a new honor, and the aristocracy which has given the world the greatest scandals of recent years, are also shouting, ‘Nach Paris!’ To them Paris is the Babylon of the deadly sin, the city of the Moulin Rouge and the restaurants of Montmartre, the only places that they know. . . .  And my comrades of the Social-Democracy, they are also cheering, but to another tune.—­’To-morrow!  To St. Petersburg!  Russian ascendency, the menace of civilization, must be obliterated!’ The Kaiser waving the tyranny of another country as a scarecrow to his people! . . .  What a joke!”

And the loud laugh of the Russian sounded through the night like the noise of wooden clappers.

“We are more civilized than the Germans,” he said, regaining his self-control.

Desnoyers, who had been listening with great interest, now gave a start of surprise, saying to himself, “This Tchernoff has been drinking.”

“Civilization,” continued the Socialist, “does not consist merely in great industry, in many ships, armies and numerous universities that only teach science.  That is material civilization.  There is another, a superior one, that elevates the soul and does not permit human dignity to suffer without protesting against continual humiliations.  A Swiss living in his wooden chalet and considering himself the equal of the other men of his country, is more civilized than the Herr Professor who gives precedence to a lieutenant, or to a Hamburg millionaire who, in turn, bends his neck like a lackey before those whose names are prefixed by a von.”