Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/202

art; accustomed to this idea, it would annoy us to see a fifth point.”

“Nevertheless,” suggested Carolus, “where you are four it is easy to be five.”

“Yes, but then we cease to be four.”

“The objection is a trivial one.”

“There is nothing trivial in this world; little brooks make great rivers; little syllables make big verses; the very mountains are made of grains of sand—so says ‘The Wisdom of Nations,’ of which there is a copy on the quay—tell me, my dear sir, which is the furrow that you usually follow in the noble fields of intelligence?”

“The great philosophers and the classic authors are my models. I live upon their study. ‘Telemachus’ first inspired the consuming passion I feel.”

“‘Telemachus’—there are lots of him on the quay,” said Colline; “you can find him there at any time. I have bought him for five sous—a second-hand copy—I would consent to part with it to oblige you. In other respects, it is a great work; very well got up, considering the age.”

“Yes, sir,” said Carolus; “I aspire to high philosophy and sound literature. According to my idea, art is a priesthood—”

“Yes, yes,” said Colline; “there’s a song about that, too;” and he began to hum

to the air of the drinking-song in “Robert the Devil.”

“I say, then, that art being a solemn mission, writers ought, above all things—”

“Excuse me,” said Colline, who heard one of the small hours striking, “but it’s getting to be to-morrow morning very fast.”