"Then," he said thou^tfully, "if foreign nations do
not attack us it is not because they fear us." • •



26o THE SHADOW OF THE CATHEDRAL

"No; that we are permitted to live in peace is be-
cause these omnipotent powers with all their ambitioDS
and jealousies preserve a certain equilibrium. They
are like the great capitalists who, occupied with vast
projects of speculation, neglect either from carelessness
or contempt the small undertakings that lie at their
door. Do you believe that Switzerland or Belgium or
other small countries live in peace surrounded by great
powers because they have an army? They would
exist just the same if they had not a single soldier, and
the military power of Spain is not greater than that of
one of these small countries ; the poverty of the countiy
and the scanty population oblige us to be humble. In
these days there are two kinds of armier those organised
for conquest and those whose only use is to keep order
at home, that are no more than police on a large scale,
with guns and generals. That of Spain, however much
it costs, and however much they increase it, comes
under the latter classification."

"And if it is only this," said the cadet, "is it not
something? We keep peace at home, and we watch
over the tranquillity of our country."

"Yes, but that could be done by fewer people and for
less money. Besides, how about glory? Will yon
youths, full of illusions, overflowing with aggressiveness
and energy for new undertakings, resign yourselves to
this profession of watchmen and caretakers to a coun-
try? Your future will be as monotonous as that of a
priest in his cathedral. Every day the same — ^to drill
men to move this or that way, to play at dominoes or
billiards in a café, to walk about in uniform or take a
nap in the guard-room. There can be nothing for yoa
beyond a small disturbance at the tax on provisions, a
strike, a closing of shops to protest against the taxes,
anH th \ to fire on a mob armed with sticks and stones.
