Page:Buddenbrooks vol 1 - Mann (IA buddenbrooks0001mann).pdf/36

RV 24 (BUDDENBROOKS) respect for his personal greatness. . . . What a nature!”

The Consul shook his head gravely.

“No, no&mdash;we of the younger generation do not see why we should revere the man who murdered the Duc d’Engien, and butchered eight hundred prisoners in Egypt. . . .”

“All that is probably exaggerated and overdrawn,” said Pastor Wunderlich. “The Duke was very likely a feather-brained and seditious person, and as for the prisoners, their execution was probably the deliberate and necessary policy of a council of war." And he went on to speak of a book at which he had been looking, by one of the Emperor’s secretaries, which had appeared some years before and was well worth reading.

“All the same,” persisted the Consul, snuffing a flickering candle in the sconce in front of him, “I cannot understand it&mdash;I cannot understand the admiration people have for this monster. As a Christian, as a religious man, I can find no room in my heart for such a feeling.”

He had, as he spoke, the slightly inclined head and the rapt look of a man in a vision. His father and Pastor Wunderlich could be seen to exchange the smallest of smiles.

“Well, anyhow,” grinned the old man, “the little napoleons aren’t so bad, eh? My son has more enthusiasm for Louis Philippe,” he said to the company in general.

“Enthusiasm?” repeated Jean Jacques Hoffstede, rather sarcastically. “. . . That is a curious juxtaposition, Philippe Égalité and enthusiasm. . . .”

“God knows, I feel we have much to learn from the July Monarchy,” the Consul said, with serious zeal. “The friendly and helpful attitude of French constitutionalism toward the new, practical ideals and interests of our time…is something we should be deeply thankful for. . . .”

“Practical ideals&mdash;well, ye-es&mdash;” The elder Buddenbrook gave his jaws a moment’s rest and played with his gold snuff-box. “Practical ideals&mdash;well&mdash;h’m&mdash;they don’t appeal to me in the least.” He dropped into dialect, out of sheer vex-

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