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〃Yes； sir。 But what are we to understand by this love that alone
consecrates marriage？〃
〃Everybody knows what love is；〃 said the lady。
〃But I don't know； and I should like to know how you define it。〃
〃How？ It is very simple；〃 said the lady。
And she seemed thoughtful； and then said：
〃Love 。 。 。 love 。 。 。 is a preference for one man or one woman
to the exclusion of all others。 。 。 。〃
〃A preference for how long？ 。 。 。 For a month； two days； or half
an hour？〃 said the nervous gentleman； with special irritation。
〃No； permit me； you evidently are not talking of the same thing。〃
〃Yes； I am talking absolutely of the same thing。 Of the
preference for one man or one woman to the exclusion of all
others。 But I ask： a preference for how long？〃
〃For how long？ For a long time； for a life…time sometimes。〃
〃But that happens only in novels。 In life； never。 In life this
preference for one to the exclusion of all others lasts in rare
cases several years； oftener several months； or even weeks； days；
hours。 。 。 。〃
〃Oh； sir。 Oh； no； no； permit me；〃 said all three of us at the
same time。
The clerk himself uttered a monosyllable of disapproval。
〃Yes； I know；〃 he said； shouting louder than all of us； 〃you are
talking of what is believed to exist； and I am talking of what
is。 Every man feels what you call love toward each pretty woman
he sees； and very little toward his wife。 That is the origin of
the proverb；and it is a true one；'Another's wife is a white
swan； and ours is bitter wormwood。〃'
〃Ah； but what you say is terrible！ There certainly exists among
human beings this feeling which is called love； and which lasts；
not for months and years； but for life。〃
〃No； that does not exist。 Even if it should be admitted that
Menelaus had preferred Helen all his life； Helen would have
preferred Paris； and so it has been； is； and will be eternally。
And it cannot be otherwise； just as it cannot happen that； in a
load of chick…peas； two peas marked with a special sign should
fall side by side。 Further； this is not only an improbability；
but it is certain that a feeling of satiety will come to Helen or
to Menelaus。 The whole difference is that to one it comes
sooner； to the other later。 It is only in stupid novels that it
is written that 'they loved each other all their lives。' And
none but children can believe it。 To talk of loving a man or
woman for life is like saying that a candle can burn
forever。〃
〃But you are talking of physical love。 Do you not admit a love
based upon a conformity of ideals； on a spiritual affinity？〃
〃Why not？ But in that case it is not necessary to procreate
together （excuse my brutality）。 The point is that this
conformity of ideals is not met among old people； but among young
and pretty persons；〃 said he； and he began to laugh disagreeably。
〃Yes； I affirm that love； real love； does not consecrate
marriage； as we are in the habit of believing； but that； on the
contrary； it ruins it。〃
〃Permit me；〃 said the lawyer。 〃The facts contradict your words。
We see that marriage exists； that all humanityat least the
larger portionlives conjugally； and that many husbands and
wives honestly end a long life together。〃
The nervous gentleman smiled ill…naturedly。
〃And what then？ You say that marriage is based upon love； and
when I give voice to a doubt as to the existence of any other
love than sensual love； you prove to me the existence of love by
marriage。 But in our day marriage is only a violence and
falsehood。〃
〃No； pardon me；〃 said the lawyer。 〃I say only that marriages
have existed and do exist。〃
〃But how and why do they exist？ They have existed； and they do
exist； for people who have seen； and do see； in marriage
something sacramental； a sacrament that is binding before God。
For such people marriages exist； but to us they are only
hypocrisy and violence。 We feel it； and； to clear ourselves； we
preach free love； but； really； to preach free love is only a call
backward to the promiscuity of the sexes （excuse me； he said to
the lady）； the haphazard sin of certain raskolniks。 The old
foundation is shattered； we must build a new one； but we must not
preach debauchery。〃
He grew so warm that all became silent； looking at him in
astonishment。
〃And yet the transition state is terrible。 People feel that
haphazard sin is inadmissible。 It is necessary in some way or
other to regulate the sexual relations； but there exists no other
foundation than the old one； in which nobody longer believes？
People marry in the old fashion； without believing in what they
do； and the result is falsehood； violence。 When it is falsehood
alone； it is easily endured。 The husband and wife simply deceive
the world by professing to live monogamically。 If they really
are polygamous and polyandrous； it is bad； but acceptable。 But
when； as often happens； the husband and the wife have taken upon
themselves the obligation to live together all their lives （they
themselves do not know why）； and from the second month have
already a desire to separate； but continue to live together just
the same； then comes that infernal existence in which they resort
to drink； in which they fire revolvers； in which they assassinate
each other； in which they poison each other。〃
All were silent； but we felt ill at ease。
〃Yes； these critical episodes happen in marital life。 For
instance； there is the Posdnicheff affair；〃 said the lawyer；
wishing to stop the conversation on this embarrassing and too
exciting ground。 〃Have you read how he killed his wife through
jealousy？〃
The lady said that she had not read it。 The nervous gentleman
said nothing； and changed color。
〃I see that you have divined who I am；〃 said he； suddenly； after
a pause。
〃No； I have not had that pleasure。〃
〃It is no great pleasure。 I am Posdnicheff。〃
New silence。 He blushed； then turned pale again。
〃What matters it； however？〃 said he。 〃Excuse me； I do not wish
to embarrass you。〃
And he resumed his old seat。
CHAPTER III。
I resumed mine； also。 The lawyer and the lady whispered
together。 I was sitting beside Posdnicheff； and I maintained
silence。 I desired to talk to him； but I did not know how to
begin； and thus an hour passed until we reached the next station。
There the lawyer and the lady went out； as well as the clerk。 We
were left alone； Posdnicheff and I。
〃They say it； and they lie； or they do not understand；〃 said
Posdnicheff。
〃Of what are you talking？〃
〃Why； still the same thing。〃
He leaned his elbows upon his knees； and pressed his hands
against his temples。
〃Love； marriage； family；all lies； lies； lies。〃
He rose； lowered the lamp…shade； lay down with his elbows on the
cushion； and closed his eyes。 He remained thus for a minute。
〃Is it disagreea