Page:The Czar, A Tale of the Time of the First Napleon.djvu/359

Rh "One man would have hindered them," said Emile—"he who is a captive now. France will soon wish the Emperor back again."

"I respect your faith in your hero, though I do not share it. But, my dear Emile, you cannot deny that, however it has come to pass, the most stupendous genius of modern times has proved, practically, the most stupendous failure."

"Is success always the test of greatness?"

"By no means. But Napoleon has always acted as though it were; has aimed at it, lived for it, sacrificed everything to it, and finally lost it. As he has now left—been forced to leave—his country to the deadly enemies his ambition has raised up against her, what will the end be, Emile?"

"Who can tell? As for me, I feel ready to hang myself."

"Pray for the life and health of my Czar. You will see him stand between the avengers and their prey; between prostrate France and victorious Germany; and even, so far as becomes a foreigner, between prostrate Imperialists and victorious Royalists."

"That it should come to this! That France—our proud, glorious France—should have to thank a Czar of Russia!"

"Where is the shame of thanking him, if God has given him the power to befriend her?"

"God?" Emile repeated scornfully. "That's your way of talking, you Russians. Don't you see now that it ends in folly and fanaticism?"

Ivan laid his hand on the shoulder of Emile. "My dear boy," he said, "do you know why I am talking with you thus? Not to make you believe in my Czar. His glory is in good keeping; and if you prefer Napoleon for a hero, I have no more to say. The cause I want to plead with you is not his, but your own. You call him fanatic and dreamer because of his faith in God and in Christ. I want to show you that it is this very faith which makes him generous, merciful, just."