Then Kahn began to speak rather wildly: 'Ben6dit,.
I am ruined, I have lost all my money, and moreover
I am hated and loathed in this town; not a soul but
whose hand is now turned against me. They pretend
that I am a German spy. Benedit, there is only one
man who can save me and that is a man whom I have
harmed. For his sake they may leave me in peace,
Benedit; they may leave me in peace if they know
I can help him. Ah, but will he do this thing . . .
will he forgive?'
Jouse said: 'What is it you would have this man
do — this man whom you say you have harmed?'
And he waited.
Kahn edged his chair nearer: 'I would have him
employ me. I would have him let me manage his
business; I would have him let me do what I can to
make it a going concern again. I would have him let
me work with my hands. . . .'
Jouse frowned and his whole face suddenly darkened:
'You to work with your hands!3 he exclaimed bitterly,
'You who have wished to destroy all beauty; you who
have lived by soulless machines; is it likely that you
could work with your hands?5
Kahn answered: 'And yet I was trained 'as a
joiner.'
In the pause that followed it seemed to Christophe
that the room was alive with conflicting emotions.
He could feel the despair of Anatole Kahn, the fear,
the remorse, the awakening of pity. He could feel
the resentment in Jouse's heart, the rekindling of that
slow and terrible anger.
'Ah,5 Jouse said thickly, 'so you were of my trade;
very shameful indeed then was your betrayal.9
Christophe looked at his father, and as he did so
J6use's eyes must turn and meet those of his son;
slowly, reluctantly they must turn to be held as by
some relentless will that dominated and claimed his
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