134 TRIBULATIONS OF A CHINAMAN
inattentive the latter listened without saying anything during
this discussion. Come, let us hear what our host has to
say? Does he find existence good or bad? Is he for or
against it?"
The host carelessly cracked some melon seeds, and an- swered by disdainfully moving his lips like a man who takes no interest in anything. "Pooh!" said he.
This is the favorite word of indifferent people. It says everything, and means nothing. It is in every language, and has a place in every dictionary in the world. It is an articulated grimace.
The five guests who were entertained by this weary host pressed him with arguments, each in favor of his own proposition. They wanted his opinion. He tried to avoid answering, but replied by affirming that life had no good or bad in it. In his view, "it was an invention, insignificant enough, and having but little enjoyment in it."
"Ah, now our friend speaks; but why should he thus speak, since the rustle of a rose has not even troubled his repose?"
"And he is young yet."
"Young and rich."
"Perhaps too rich."
These remarks flew about like rockets from fireworks, without bringing a smile to the host's impassible physi- ognomy. He was satisfied to shrug his shoulders slightly, like a man who had never wished to turn over the leaves in the book of his life, and who had not even cut the first pages.
And yet this indifferent man was at least thirty-one years of age; he possessed a large fortune, enjoyed good health, was not without culture, his intelligence was above the aver- age, and he had everything, which so many want, to make him one of the happiest men in the world. And why was he not happy?
"Why?"
The grave voice of the philosopher was now heard, speak- ing like the leader of a chorus. "Friend," he said, "if you are not happy here below it is because your happiness thus far has been only negative. It is with happiness as it is with health, to enjoy it one should sometimes be deprived of it. Now, have you never been ill? I mean to ask, rather,
