the mysterious stranger-第9章
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another fish had appeared in the pan。 She looked surprised； but did not
say anything。 She probably meant to inquire of Ursula about this later。
There were other surprises： flesh and game and wines and fruitsthings
which had been strangers in that house lately； but Marget made no
exclamations； and now even looked unsurprised； which was Satan's
influence； of course。 Satan talked right along； and was entertaining；
and made the time pass pleasantly and cheerfully； and although he told a
good many lies； it was no harm in him； for he was only an angel and did
not know any better。 They do not know right from wrong； I knew this；
because I remembered what he had said about it。 He got on the good side
of Ursula。 He praised her to Marget； confidentially； but speaking just
loud enough for Ursula to hear。 He said she was a fine woman； and he
hoped some day to bring her and his uncle together。 Very soon Ursula was
mincing and simpering around in a ridiculous girly way； and smoothing out
her gown and prinking at herself like a foolish old hen； and all the time
pretending she was not hearing what Satan was saying。 I was ashamed； for
it showed us to be what Satan considered us； a silly race and trivial。
Satan said his uncle entertained a great deal； and to have a clever woman
presiding over the festivities would double the attractions of the place。
〃But your uncle is a gentleman； isn't he？〃 asked Marget。
〃Yes；〃 said Satan indifferently； 〃some even call him a Prince； out of
compliment； but he is not bigoted； to him personal merit is everything；
rank nothing。〃
My hand was hanging down by my chair； Agnes came along and licked it； by
this act a secret was revealed。 I started to say； 〃It is all a mistake；
this is just a common； ordinary cat； the hair…needles on her tongue point
inward； not outward。〃 But the words did not come； because they couldn't。
Satan smiled upon me； and I understood。
When it was dark Marget took food and wine and fruit； in a basket； and
hurried away to the jail； and Satan and I walked toward my home。 I was
thinking to myself that I should like to see what the inside of the jail
was like； Satan overheard the thought； and the next moment we were in the
jail。 We were in the torture…chamber； Satan said。 The rack was there；
and the other instruments； and there was a smoky lantern or two hanging
on the walls and helping to make the place look dim and dreadful。 There
were people thereand executionersbut as they took no notice of us； it
meant that we were invisible。 A young man lay bound； and Satan said he
was suspected of being a heretic； and the executioners were about to
inquire into it。 They asked the man to confess to the charge； and he
said he could not； for it was not true。 Then they drove splinter after
splinter under his nails； and he shrieked with the pain。 Satan was not
disturbed； but I could not endure it； and had to be whisked out of there。
I was faint and sick； but the fresh air revived me； and we walked toward
my home。 I said it was a brutal thing。
〃No； it was a human thing。 You should not insult the brutes by such a
misuse of that word； they have not deserved it；〃 and he went on talking
like that。 〃It is like your paltry racealways lying； always claiming
virtues which it hasn't got； always denying them to the higher animals；
which alone possess them。 No brute ever does a cruel thingthat is the
monopoly of those with the Moral Sense。 When a brute inflicts pain he
does it innocently； it is not wrong； for him there is no such thing as
wrong。 And he does not inflict pain for the pleasure of inflicting it
only man does that。 Inspired by that mongrel Moral Sense of his！ A
sense whose function is to distinguish between right and wrong； with
liberty to choose which of them he will do。 Now what advantage can he
get out of that？ He is always choosing； and in nine cases out of ten he
prefers the wrong。 There shouldn't be any wrong； and without the Moral
Sense there couldn't be any。 And yet he is such an unreasoning creature
that he is not able to perceive that the Moral Sense degrades him to the
bottom layer of animated beings and is a shameful possession。 Are you
feeling better？ Let me show you something。〃
Chapter 6
In a moment we were in a French village。 We walked through a great
factory of some sort； where men and women and little children were
toiling in heat and dirt and a fog of dust； and they were clothed in
rags； and drooped at their work； for they were worn and half starved； and
weak and drowsy。 Satan said：
〃It is some more Moral Sense。 The proprietors are rich； and very holy；
but the wage they pay to these poor brothers and sisters of theirs is
only enough to keep them from dropping dead with hunger。 The work…hours
are fourteen per day； winter and summerfrom six in the morning till
eight at nightlittle children and all。 And they walk to and from the
pigsties which they inhabitfour miles each way； through mud and slush；
rain； snow； sleet； and storm； daily； year in and year out。 They get four
hours of sleep。 They kennel together； three families in a room； in
unimaginable filth and stench； and disease comes； and they die off like
flies。 Have they committed a crime； these mangy things？ No。 What have
they done； that they are punished so？ Nothing at all； except getting
themselves born into your foolish race。 You have seen how they treat a
misdoer there in the jail； now you see how they treat the innocent and
the worthy。 Is your race logical？ Are these ill…smelling innocents
better off than that heretic？ Indeed； no； his punishment is trivial
compared with theirs。 They broke him on the wheel and smashed him to
rags and pulp after we left； and he is dead now； and free of your
precious race； but these poor slaves herewhy； they have been dying for
years； and some of them will not escape from life for years to come。 It
is the Moral Sense which teaches the factory proprietors the difference
between right and wrongyou perceive the result。 They think themselves
better than dogs。 Ah； you are such an illogical； unreasoning race！ And
paltryoh； unspeakably！〃
Then he dropped all seriousness and just overstrained himself making fun
of us； and deriding our pride in our warlike deeds； our great heroes； our
imperishable fames； our mighty kings； our ancient aristocracies； our
venerable historyand laughed and laughed till it was enough to make a
person sick to hear him； and finally he sobered a little and said； 〃But；
after all； it is not all ridiculous； there is a sort of pathos about it
when one remembers how few are your days； how childish your pomps； and
what shadows you are！〃
Presently all things vanished suddenly from my sight； and I knew what it
meant。 The next moment we were walking along in our village； and down
toward the river I saw the twinkling lights of the Golden Stag。 Then in
the dark I heard a joyful cry：
〃He's come again！〃
It was Seppi Wohlmeyer。 He had felt his blood leap and his spirits rise
in a way that could mean only one thing； and he knew Satan was near；
although it was too dark to see him。 He came to us； and we walked along
together； and Seppi poured out his gladness like water。 It was as if he
were a lover and had found his sweetheart who had been lost。 Seppi was a
smart and animated boy； and had enthusiasm and expression； and was a
contrast to Nikolaus and me。 He was full of the last new mystery； now
the disappearance of Hans Oppert； the village loafer。 People were
beginning to be curious about it； he said。 He did not say anxious
curious was the right word； and strong enough。 No one had seen Hans for
a couple of days。
〃Not since he did that brutal thing； you know；〃 he said。
〃What brutal thing？〃 It was Satan that asked。
〃Well； he is always clubbing his dog； which is a good dog； and his only
friend； and is faithful； and loves him； and does no one any harm； and two
days ago he was at it again； just for nothingjust for pleasureand the
dog was howling and begging； and Theodor and I begged； too； but he
threatened us； and struck the dog again with all his might and knocked
one of his eyes out； and he said to us； 'The
