The Equinox (Volume I, Number IX)

THE EQUINOX I am come to thank you for your gift, and, at the same time, to testify to my astonishment and disappointment.” Mr. Mapro_te. “ Your disappointment, sir! Pray explain yourself, I do not understand you.” “Jt isa lively regret to me, sir, to see you make mistakes which I have myself at one time made. But I had then, at least, the excuse of inexperience and youth. Your pamphlet lacks conviction, because it lacks discrimination. Your inten- tion was doubtless to protest against errors in belief, and abuses in morality: and behold, it is the belief and the morality themselves that you attack! The exaltation which overflows in your pamphlet may indeed do you the greatest harm, and some of your best friends must have experienced anxiety with regard to the state of your health... .” “Oh, no doubt; they have said, and say still, that I am mad. But it is nothing new that believers must undergo the folly of the cross. I am exalted, sir, because you yourself would be so in my place, because it is impossible to remain calm in the presence of prodigies. . . .” “Oh, oh, you speak of prodigies, thatinterests me. Come, between ourselves, and in all good faith, of what prodigies are you speaking ?” “Eh, what prodigies should they be but those of the great prophet Elias, returned to earth under the name of Pierre Michel ?” “Tunderstand; you mean Eugéne Vintras. I have heard his prophecies spoken of. But does he really perform miracles ?” [Here Mr. Madrolle jumps in his chair, raises his eyes and his hands to heaven, and finally smiles with a condescension which seems to sound the depths of pity.] 140