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can belittle it and make it ridiculous by an epigram。 Society draws
caricatures； and in this way flings in the teeth of fallen kings the
affronts which it fancies it has received from them； society； like the
Roman youth at the circus； never shows mercy to the fallen gladiator；
mockery and money are its vital necessities。 〃Death to the weak！〃 That
is the oath taken by this kind of Equestrian order； instituted in
their midst by all the nations of the world； everywhere it makes for
the elevation of the rich； and its motto is deeply graven in hearts
that wealth has turned to stone； or that have been reared in
aristocratic prejudices。
Assemble a collection of school…boys together。 That will give you a
society in miniature； a miniature which represents life more truly；
because it is so frank and artless； and in it you will always find
poor isolated beings； relegated to some place in the general
estimations between pity and contempt； on account of their weakness
and suffering。 To these the Evangel promises heaven hereafter。 Go
lower yet in the scale of organized creation。 If some bird among its
fellows in the courtyard sickens； the others fall upon it with their
beaks； pluck out its feathers； and kill it。 The whole world； in
accordance with its character of egotism； brings all its severity to
bear upon wretchedness that has the hardihood to spoil its
festivities； and to trouble its joys。
Any sufferer in mind or body； any helpless or poor man； is a pariah。
He had better remain in his solitude； if he crosses the boundary…line；
he will find winter everywhere； he will find freezing cold in other
men's looks； manners； words； and hearts； and lucky indeed is he if he
does not receive an insult where he expected that sympathy would be
expended upon him。 Let the dying keep to their bed of neglect； and age
sit lonely by its fireside。 Portionless maids； freeze and burn in your
solitary attics。 If the world tolerates misery of any kind； it is to
turn it to account for its own purposes； to make some use of it；
saddle and bridle it； put a bit in its mouth； ride it about； and get
some fun out of it。
Crotchety spinsters； ladies' companions； put a cheerful face upon it；
endure the humors of your so…called benefactress； carry her lapdogs
for her； you have an English poodle for your rival； and you must seek
to understand the moods of your patroness； and amuse her； andkeep
silence about yourselves。 As for you； unblushing parasite； uncrowned
king of unliveried servants； leave your real character at home； let
your digestion keep pace with your host's laugh when he laughs； mingle
your tears with his； and find his epigrams amusing； if you want to
relieve your mind about him； wait till he is ruined。 That is the way
the world shows its respect for the unfortunate； it persecutes them；
or slays them in the dust。
Such thoughts as these welled up in Raphael's heart with the
suddenness of poetic inspiration。 He looked around him； and felt the
influence of the forbidding gloom that society breathes out in order
to rid itself of the unfortunate； it nipped his soul more effectually
than the east wind grips the body in December。 He locked his arms over
his chest； set his back against the wall； and fell into a deep
melancholy。 He mused upon the meagre happiness that this depressing
way of living can give。 What did it amount to？ Amusement with no
pleasure in it； gaiety without gladness； joyless festivity； fevered
dreams empty of all delight； firewood or ashes on the hearth without a
spark of flame in them。 When he raised his head； he found himself
alone； all the billiard players had gone。
〃I have only to let them know my power to make them worship my
coughing fits；〃 he said to himself； and wrapped himself against the
world in the cloak of his contempt。
Next day the resident doctor came to call upon him； and took an
anxious interest in his health。 Raphael felt a thrill of joy at the
friendly words addressed to him。 The doctor's face； to his thinking；
wore an expression that was kind and pleasant； the pale curls of his
wig seemed redolent of philanthropy； the square cut of his coat； the
loose folds of his trousers； his big Quaker…like shoes； everything
about him down to the powder shaken from his queue and dusted in a
circle upon his slightly stooping shoulders； revealed an apostolic
nature； and spoke of Christian charity and of the self…sacrifice of a
man； who； out of sheer devotion to his patients； had compelled himself
to learn to play whist and tric…trac so well that he never lost money
to any of them。
〃My Lord Marquis；〃 said he； after a long talk with Raphael； 〃I can
dispel your uneasiness beyond all doubt。 I know your constitution well
enough by this time to assure you that the doctors in Paris； whose
great abilities I know； are mistaken as to the nature of your
complaint。 You can live as long as Methuselah； my Lord Marquis；
accidents only excepted。 Your lungs are as sound as a blacksmith's
bellows； your stomach would put an ostrich to the blush； but if you
persist in living at high altitude； you are running the risk of a
prompt interment in consecrated soil。 A few words； my Lord Marquis；
will make my meaning clear to you。
〃Chemistry；〃 he began； 〃has shown us that man's breathing is a real
process of combustion； and the intensity of its action varies
according to the abundance or scarcity of the phlogistic element
stored up by the organism of each individual。 In your case； the
phlogistic； or inflammatory element is abundant； if you will permit me
to put it so； you generate superfluous oxygen； possessing as you do
the inflammatory temperament of a man destined to experience strong
emotions。 While you breath the keen； pure air that stimulates life in
men of lymphatic constitution； you are accelerating an expenditure of
vitality already too rapid。 One of the conditions for existence for
you is the heavier atmosphere of the plains and valleys。 Yes； the
vital air for a man consumed by his genius lies in the fertile
pasture…lands of Germany； at Toplitz or Baden…Baden。 If England is not
obnoxious to you； its misty climate would reduce your fever； but the
situation of our baths； a thousand feet above the level of the
Mediterranean； is dangerous for you。 That is my opinion at least；〃 he
said； with a deprecatory gesture； 〃and I give it in opposition to our
interests； for； if you act upon it； we shall unfortunately lose you。〃
But for these closing words of his； the affable doctor's seeming good…
nature would have completely won Raphael over； but he was too
profoundly observant not to understand the meaning of the tone； the
look and gesture that accompanied that mild sarcasm； not to see that
the little man had been sent on this errand； no doubt； by a flock of
his rejoicing patients。 The florid…looking idlers； tedious old women；
nomad English people； and fine ladies who had given their husbands the
slip； and were escorted hither by t