I know nothing and desire to know nothing, not even the formula of that devilish powder of which your shirt cuff bore traces, and which has wrought such terrible havoc." And then as the brothers remained surprised, turning cold with anxiety, in spite of his assurances, he added with a sweeping gesture: "Ah! my friends, I regard such an action as even more useless than criminal! I only feel contempt for the vain agitation of politics, whether they be revolutionary or conservative.

Does not science suffice?
Why hasten the times when one single step of science brings humanity nearer to the goal of truth and justice than do a hundred years of politics and social revolt?
Why, it is science alone which sweeps away dogmas, casts down gods, and creates light and happiness.

And I, Member of the Institute as I am, decorated and possessed of means, I am the only true Revolutionist." Then he began to laugh and Guillaume realised all the good-natured irony of his laugh.

While admiring him as a great _savant_, he had hitherto suffered at seeing him lead such a _bourgeois_ life, accepting whatever appointments and honours were offered him, a Republican under the Republic, but quite ready to serve science under no matter what master.
But now, from beneath this opportunist, this hieratical _savant_, this toiler who accepted wealth and glory from all hands, there appeared a quiet yet terrible evolutionist, who certainly expected that his own work would help to ravage and renew the world! However, Bertheroy rose and took his leave: "I'll come back; behave sensibly, and love one another as well as you can." When the brothers again found themselves alone, Pierre seated at Guillaume's bedside, their hands once more sought each other and met in a burning clasp instinct with all their anguish.

How much threatening mystery and distress there was both around and within them! The grey wintry daylight came into the room, and they could see the black trees in the garden, while the house remained full of quivering silence, save that overhead a faint sound of footsteps was audible.