'
'You expect, then,' said Baruch, 'that the Italians will answer your
appeal?'
'If I had no faith in the people, I do not see what faith could
survive.'
'The people are the persons you meet in the street.'
'A people is not a mere assemblage of uninteresting units, but it is
not a phantom. A spirit lives in each nation which is superior to
any individual in it. It is this which is the true reality, the
nation's purpose and destiny, it is this for which the patriot lives
and dies.'
'I suppose,' said Clara, 'you have no difficulty in obtaining
volunteers for any dangerous enterprise?'
'None. You would be amazed if I were to tell you how many men and
women at this very moment would go to meet certain death if I were to
ask them.'
'Women?'
'Oh, yes; and women are of the greatest use, but it is rather
difficult to find those who have the necessary qualifications.'
'I suppose you employ them in order to obtain secret information?'
'Yes; amongst the Austrians.'
The party broke up. Baruch manoeuvred to walk with Clara, but
Marshall wanted to borrow a book from Mazzini, and she stayed behind
for him. Madge was outside in the street, and Baruch could do
nothing but go to her. She seemed unwilling to wait, and Baruch and
she went slowly homewards, thinking the others would overtake them.
The conversation naturally turned upon Mazzini.
Pages:
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183