g death, the turn of the tide
which will carry splendor and power to some new nation. Your theory of
equilibrium is wrong. Nothing can remain stationary; whatever ceases to
grow, decreases and disappears. And if Paris is bent on dying, she will
die, and the country with her."

"Well, for my part," declared Santerre, resuming the pose of an elegant
pessimist, "if she wishes to die, I shan't oppose her. In fact, I'm
fully determined to help her."

"It is evident that the really honest, sensible course is to check any
increase of population," added Seguin.

But Mathieu, as if he had not heard them, went on: "I know Herbert
Spencer's law, and I believe it to be theoretically correct. It is
certain that civilization is a check to fruitfulness, so that one may
picture a series of social evolutions conducing now to decrease and now
to increase of population, the whole ending in final equilibrium, by
the very effect of culture's victory when the world shall be entirely
populated and civilized. But who can foretell what road will be
followed, through what disasters and sufferings one may have to go? More
and more nations may disappear, and others may replace them; and how
many thousands of years may not be needed before the final adjustment,
compounded of truth, justice, and peace, is arrived at? At the thought
of this the mind trembles and hesitates, and the heart contracts with a
pang."

Deep silence fell while he thus remained disturbed, shaken in his faith
in the good powers of life, and at a loss as to who was right--he or
those two men so languidly stretched out before him.

But Valentine, Seguin's wife, came in, laughing and making an exhibition
of masculine ways, which it had cost her much trouble to acquire.

"Ah! you people; you must not bear me any malice, you know. That girl
Celeste takes such a time over everything!"

At five-and-twenty Valentine was short, slight, and still girlish. Fair,
with a delicate face, laughing blue eyes, and a pert little nose, she
could not claim to be pretty. Still she was charming and droll, and very
free and easy in her ways; for not only did her husband take her about
with him to all sorts of objectionable places, but she had become quite
familiar with the artists and writers who frequented the house. Thus it
was only in the presence of something extremely insulting that she again
showed herself the last of the Vaugelades, and would all at once draw
herself up and display haug