[Zanoni by Edward Bulwer Lytton]@TWC D-Link book
Zanoni

CHAPTER 1
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Seeing written on the walls, "Fraternite ou la Mort," he observed that the sentiment should be translated thus, "Sois mon frere, ou je te tue." ("Be my brother, or I kill thee.")) "And what of me ?" "You will open your own veins to escape the fraternity of Cain.

Be comforted; the last drops will not follow the razor.

For you, venerable Malesherbes; for you, Aimar Nicolai; for you, learned Bailly,--I see them dress the scaffold! And all the while, O great philosophers, your murderers will have no word but philosophy on their lips!" The hush was complete and universal when the pupil of Voltaire--the prince of the academic sceptics, hot La Harpe--cried with a sarcastic laugh, "Do not flatter me, O prophet, by exemption from the fate of my companions.

Shall _I_ have no part to play in this drama of your fantasies." At this question, Cazotte's countenance lost its unnatural expression of awe and sternness; the sardonic humour most common to it came back and played in his brightening eyes.
"Yes, La Harpe, the most wonderful part of all! YOU will become--a Christian!" This was too much for the audience that a moment before seemed grave and thoughtful, and they burst into an immoderate fit of laughter, while Cazotte, as if exhausted by his predictions, sank back in his chair, and breathed hard and heavily.
"Nay," said Madame de G--, "you who have predicted such grave things concerning us, must prophesy something also about yourself." A convulsive tremor shook the involuntary prophet,--it passed, and left his countenance elevated by an expression of resignation and calm.
"Madame," said he, after a long pause, "during the siege of Jerusalem, we are told by its historian that a man, for seven successive days, went round the ramparts, exclaiming, 'Woe to thee, Jerusalem,--woe to myself!'" "Well, Cazotte, well ?" "And on the seventh day, while he thus spoke, a stone from the machines of the Romans dashed him into atoms!" With these words, Cazotte rose; and the guests, awed in spite of themselves, shortly afterwards broke up and retired..


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