a species of mystic adoration.

"The preliminary victory," he suddenly exclaimed, "we gained some time
ago. Our enemies, therefore, hate us, and yet they imitate us. All that
bears the stamp of Germany is in demand throughout the world. The very
countries that are trying to resist our arms copy our methods in their
universities and admire our theories, even those which do not attain
success in Germany. Oftentimes we laugh among ourselves, like the Roman
augurs, upon seeing the servility with which they follow us! . . . And
yet they will not admit our superiority!"

For the first time, Argensola's eyes and general expression approved the
words of Hartrott. What he had just said was only too true--the world
was a victim of "the German superstition." An intellectual cowardice,
the fear of Force had made it admire en masse and indiscriminately,
everything of Teutonic origin, just because of the intensity of its
glitter--gold mixed with talcum. The so-called Latins, dazed with
admiration, were, with unreasonable pessimism, becoming doubtful of
their ability, and thus were the first to decree their own death. And
the conceited Germans merely had to repeat the words of these pessimists
in order to strengthen their belief in their own superiority.

With that Southern temperament, which leaps rapidly from one extreme
to another, many Latins had proclaimed that in the world of the
future, there would be no place for the Latin peoples, now in their
death-agony--adding that Germany alone preserved the latent forces
of civilization. The French who declaimed among themselves, with the
greatest exaggeration, unconscious that folks were listening the other
side of the door, had proclaimed repeatedly for many years past, that
France was degenerating rapidly and would soon vanish from the earth.
. . . Then why should they resent the scorn of their enemies. . . . Why
shouldn't the Germans share in their beliefs?

The professor, misinterpreting the silent agreement of the Spaniard who
until then had been listening with such a hostile smile, added:

"Now is the time to try out in France the German culture, implanting it
there as conquerors."

Here Argensola interrupted, "And what if there is no such thing as
German culture, as a celebrated Teuton says?" It had become necessary
to contradict this pedant who had become insufferable with his egotism.
Hartrott almost jumped from his chair on hearing such a doubt.

"What German is that?"