Part 13 (1/2)

”He took Eve with him to keep up the sickness of dissatisfaction,” said Zegota; ”There would certainly have been no progress without _her_!”

”Pardon,--Cain was the true Progressivist and Reformer,” put in Graub; ”Some fine sentiment of the garden of Eden was in his blood, which impelled him to offer up a vegetable sacrifice to the Deity, whereas Abel had already committed murder by slaying lambs. According to the legend, G.o.d preferred the 'savour' of the lambs, so perhaps,--who knows!--the idea that the savour of Abel might be equally agreeable to Divine senses induced Cain to kill him as a special 'youngling.' This was a Progressive act,--a step beyond mere lambs!”

Everyone laughed, except Sergius Thord. He had fallen into a heavy, brooding silence, his head sunk on his breast, his wild hair falling forward like a mane, and his right hand clenched and resting on the table.

”Sergius!” called Lotys.

He did not answer.

”He is in one of his far-away moods,”--said one of the men next to Axel Regor,--”It is best not to disturb him.”

Paul Zouche, however, had no such scruples. ”Sergius!” he cried,--”Come out of your cloud of meditation! Drink to the health of our three new comrades!”

All the members of the company filled their gla.s.ses, and Thord, hearing the noise and clatter, looked up with a wild stare.

”What are you doing?” he asked slowly;--”I thought some one spoke of Cain killing Abel!”

”It was I,” said Graub--”I spoke of it--irreverently, I fear,--but the story itself is irreverent. The notion that 'G.o.d,' should like roast meat is the height of blasphemy!”

Zouche burst into a violent fit of laughter. But Thord went on talking in a low tone, as though to himself.

”Cain killing Abel!” he repeated--”Always the same horrible story is repeated through history--brother against brother,--blood crying out for blood--life torn from the weak and helpless body--all for what? For a little gold,--a pa.s.sing trifle of power! Cain killing Abel! My G.o.d, art Thou not yet weary of the old eternal crime!”

He spoke in a semi-whisper which thrilled through the room. A momentary hush prevailed, and then Lotys called again, her voice softened to a caressing sweetness.

”Sergius!”

He started, and shook himself out of his reverie this time. Raising his hand, he pa.s.sed it in a vague mechanical way across his brow as though suddenly wakened from a dream.

”Yes, yes! Let us drink to our three new comrades,” he said, and rose to his feet. ”To your health, friends! And may you all stand firm in the hour of trial!”

All the company sprang up and drained their gla.s.ses, and when the toast was drunk and they were again seated, Pasquin Leroy asked if he might be allowed to return thanks.

”I do not know,” he said with a courteous air, ”whether it is permissible for a newly-enrolled a.s.sociate of this Brotherhood to make a speech on the first night of his members.h.i.+p,--but after the cordial welcome I and my comrades, strangers as we are, have received at your hands, I should like to say a few words--if, without breaking any rules of the Order, I may do so.”

”Hear, hear!” shouted Zouche, who had been steadily drinking for the last few moments,--”Speak on, man! Whoever heard of a dumb Socialist!

Rant--rant! Rant and rave!--as I do, when the fit is on me! Do I not, Thord? Do I not move you even to tears?”

”And laughter!” put in Zegota. ”Hold your tongue, Zouche! No other man can talk at all, if you once begin!”

Zouche laughed, and drained his gla.s.s.

”True!--my genius is of an absorbing quality! Silence, gentlemen!

Silence for our new comrade! 'Pasquin' stands for the beginning of a jest--so we may hope he will be amusing,--'Leroy' stands for the king, and so we may expect him to be non-political!”

CHAPTER VIII