He perceived his friend's
evident meaning.
"Paul! A fortune-hunter!"
"You may talk. Luck flew to you without your lifting a finger to
attract it. Other people must help themselves. Fortune-hunter! That
name was invented by hysterical girls whose heads are turned by
silly novels. These absurd creatures wish in their childish vanity
to be married merely for their beautiful eyes. I should like to ask
such a girl whether she would marry a man merely for his beautiful
eyes! I have no patience with such nonsense. Suppose a poor man, who
is capable and clever, acknowledges in a straightforward way that he
is trying to win the hand of a rich woman. He need not upbraid
himself about anything, for he gives as much as he receives. What do
people want from the world? Happiness. That is the aim of my life,
just as it is the aim of the rich woman's. She has money, and for
happiness she lacks love; I have love, and for happiness I lack
money. We make an equal exchange of what we own. It is the most
beautiful supplement to a dual incompleteness."
"It is in this way then that you would offer what you call love to a
rich girl! A love cleverly conducted, carefully mapped out--a love
which one could control, and on no account offer to a poor girl.
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