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well believe in Mahomet。 If common report speak truth； here are thirty
men of talent； and good fellows too； prepared to dine off the flesh
and blood of a whole family； 。 。 。 and here are we ourselves； a pair
of youngsters full of open…hearted enthusiasm； and we shall be
partakers in his guilt。 I have a mind to ask our capitalist whether he
is a respectable character。 。 。 。〃
〃No； not now；〃 cried Raphael； 〃but when he is dead drunk； we shall
have had our dinner then。〃
The two friends sat down laughing。 First of all； by a glance more
rapid than a word； each paid his tribute of admiration to the splendid
general effect of the long table； white as a bank of freshly…fallen
snow； with its symmetrical line of covers； crowned with their pale
golden rolls of bread。 Rainbow colors gleamed in the starry rays of
light reflected by the glass； the lights of the tapers crossed and
recrossed each other indefinitely； the dishes covered with their
silver domes whetted both appetite and curiosity。
Few words were spoken。 Neighbors exchanged glances as the Maderia
circulated。 Then the first course appeared in all its glory； it would
have done honor to the late Cambaceres； Brillat…Savarin would have
celebrated it。 The wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy； white and red； were
royally lavished。 This first part of the banquet might been compared
in every way to a rendering of some classical tragedy。 The second act
grew a trifle noisier。 Every guest had had a fair amount to drink； and
had tried various crus at this pleasure； so that as the remains of the
magnificent first course were removed； tumultuous discussions began； a
pale brow here and there began to flush； sundry noses took a purpler
hue； faces lit up； and eyes sparkled。
While intoxication was only dawning； the conversation did not overstep
the bounds of civility； but banter and bon mots slipped by degrees
from every tongue； and then slander began to rear its little snake's
heard； and spoke in dulcet tones； a few shrewd ones here and there
gave heed to it； hoping to keep their heads。 So the second course
found their minds somewhat heated。 Every one ate as he spoke； spoke
while he ate； and drank without heeding the quantity of the liquor；
the wine was so biting； the bouquet so fragrant； the example around so
infectious。 Taillefer made a point of stimulating his guests； and
plied them with the formidable wines of the Rhone； with fierce Tokay；
and heady old Roussillon。
The champagne； impatiently expected and lavishly poured out； was a
scourge of fiery sparks to these men； released like post…horses from
some mail…coach by a relay； they let their spirits gallop away into
the wilds of argument to which no one listened； began to tell stories
which had no auditors； and repeatedly asked questions to which no
answer was made。 Only the loud voice of wassail could be heard； a
voice made up of a hundred confused clamors； which rose and grew like
a crescendo of Rossini's。 Insidious toasts； swagger； and challenges
followed。
Each renounced any pride in his own intellectual capacity； in order to
vindicate that of hogsheads； casks； and vats； and each made noise
enough for two。 A time came when the footmen smiled； while their
masters all talked at once。 A philosopher would have been interested；
doubtless； by the singularity of the thoughts expressed； a politician
would have been amazed by the incongruity of the methods discussed in
the melee of words or doubtfully luminous paradoxes； where truths；
grotesquely caparisoned； met in conflict across the uproar of brawling
judgments； of arbitrary decisions and folly； much as bullets； shells；
and grapeshot are hurled across a battlefield。
It was at once a volume and a picture。 Every philosophy； religion； and
moral code differing so greatly in every latitude； every government；
every great achievement of the human intellect； fell before a scythe
as long as Time's own； and you might have found it hard to decide
whether it was wielded by Gravity intoxicated； or by Inebriation grown
sober and clear…sighted。 Borne away by a kind of tempest； their minds；
like the sea raging against the cliffs； seemed ready to shake the laws
which confine the ebb and flow of civilization； unconsciously
fulfilling the will of God； who has suffered evil and good to abide in
nature； and reserved the secret of their continual strife to Himself。
A frantic travesty of debate ensued； a Walpurgis…revel of intellects。
Between the dreary jests of these children of the Revolution over the
inauguration of a newspaper； and the talk of the joyous gossips at
Gargantua's birth； stretched the gulf that divides the nineteenth
century from the sixteenth。 Laughingly they had begun the work of
destruction； and our journalists laughed amid the ruins。
〃What is the name of that young man over there？〃 said the notary；
indicating Raphael。 〃I thought I heard some one call him Valentin。〃
〃What stuff is this？〃 said Emile； laughing； 〃plain Valentin； say you？
Raphael DE Valentin； if you please。 We bear an eagle or； on a field
sable； with a silver crown； beak and claws gules； and a fine motto：
NON CECIDIT ANIMUS。 We are no foundling child； but a descendant of the
Emperor Valens； of the stock of the Valentinois； founders of the
cities of Valence in France； and Valencia in Spain； rightful heirs to
the Empire of the East。 If we suffer Mahmoud on the throne of
Byzantium； it is out of pure condescension； and for lack of funds and
soldiers。〃
With a fork flourished above Raphael's head； Emile outlined a crown
upon it。 The notary bethought himself a moment； but soon fell to
drinking again； with a gesture peculiar to himself； it was quite
impossible； it seemed to say to secure in his clientele the cities of
Valence and Byzantium； the Emperor Valens； Mahmoud； and the house of
Valentinois。
〃Should not the destruction of those ant…hills； Babylon； Tyre；
Carthage； and Venice； each crushed beneath the foot of a passing
giant； serve as a warning to man； vouchsafed by some mocking power？〃
said Claude Vignon； who must play the Bossuet； as a sort of purchased
slave； at the rate of fivepence a line。
〃Perhaps Moses； Sylla； Louis XI。； Richelieu； Robespierre； and Napoleon
were but the same man who crosses our civilizations now and again；
like a comet across the sky；〃 said a disciple of Ballanche。
〃Why try to fathom the designs of Providence？〃 said Canalis； maker of
ballads。
〃Come； now；〃 said the man who set up for a critic； 〃there is nothing
more elastic in the world than your Providence。〃
〃Well； sir； Louis XIV。 sacrificed more lives over digging the
foundations of the Maintenon's aqueducts； than the Convention expended
in order to assess the taxes justly； to make one law for everybody；
and one nation of France； and to establish the rule of equal
inheritance；〃 said Massol； whom the lack of a syllable before his name
had made a Republican。
〃Are you going to leave our heads on our shoulders？〃 asked Moreau （of
the Oise）； a substantial farmer。 〃You； sir； who took blood for wine
just now？〃
〃Where is the use？ Aren't the principles of social order worth some
sacrifices； sir？〃
〃Hi！ Bixiou！ What's…his…name； the Republican