“The Poles are perhaps the most beautiful of European peoples. They have also _immense_ courage” ... unsuspicious thoughtfully talking face, lifting her up and out again into light and air..... “But the Pole is undoubtedly the most _treacherous_ fellow in Europe.” Grave live eyes flashed across at her, easily, moulding the lounging form into shapeliness. “He is at the same time of the most distinguished mentality.” Why should anyone help a distinguished mentality to go on being treacherous? “And in particular is this true of the Polish _Jew_. There are in all European universities amongst the very most distinguished professors and students very many Polish Jews.” Le Juif Polonais ... _The Bells_. It was strange to think of Polish Jews going on in modern everyday life...... But if Poles were so evil ... That was Dr. Veslovsky’s expression. Cold evil. “There was an awful thing last week in Woburn Place.” “Yes?” “Mrs. Bailey told me about it. There was a girl who owed her landlady twenty-five shillings. She threw herself out of her bedroom window on the top floor because her landlady spoke to her about it.” “That is _terrible_” whispered Mr. Shatov. His eyes were dark with pain; his face shrunk as if with cold. “That could _never_ happen in Russia” he said reproachfully. “Why not?” “No. In Russia such a thing is impossible. And in student circles most particularly. This young girl living in this neighbourhood without salary was probably some sort of student.” “Why? She might have been a governess out of work or a poor clerk. Besides I thought people were always committing suicide in Russia.” “That is of course a gross exaggeration. There are certainly suicides in Russia as everywhere. But in Russia suicide, which does certainly occur in abnormally high frequency amongst the young intelligentsia, arises from trouble of _spirit_. They are psychopath. There comes some spiritual crisis and--phwtt-- ... It is characteristic of the educated Slav mind to lose itself in face of abstractive insolubilities. But for need of _twenty-five shillings_. I find in this something peculiarly horrible. In midst of your English civilisation it is pure-barbaric.” “There has not been any civilisation in the world yet. We are still all living in caves.” The quotation sounded less convincing than at Wimpole Street......