按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
longer sells them。 Such a woman is either detestable or perfect； for
her gifts are either not of the flesh or they are worthless。 Madame de
la Chanterie was perfect。 She seemed never to have had a youth； her
glance never told of a past。 Godefroid's curiosity was far from being
appeased by a closer and more intimate knowledge of this sublime
nature； the discoveries of each succeeding day only redoubled his
desire to learn the anterior life of a woman whom he now thought a
saint。 Had she ever loved？ Had she been a wife；a mother？ Nothing
about her was characteristic of an old maid； she displayed all the
graces of a well…born woman； and an observer would perceive in her
robust health； in the extraordinary phenomena of her physical
preservation； a divine life； and a species of ignorance of the earthly
existence。
Except the gay and cheery goodman Alain； all these persons had
suffered； but Monsieur Nicolas himself seemed to give the palm of
martyrdom to Madame de la Chanterie。 Nevertheless； the memory of her
sorrows was so restrained by religious resignation； by her secret
avocations； that she seemed to have been always happy。
〃You are the life of your friends；〃 Godefroid said to her one day；
〃you are the tie that unites them；the house…mother； as it were； of
some great work； and； as we are all mortal； I ask myself sometimes
what your association would become without you。〃
〃That is what frightens the others； but Providence； to whom we owe our
new book…keeper；〃 she said； smiling； 〃will provide。 Besides； I am on
the look…out。〃
〃Will your new book…keeper soon be allowed to work at your business？〃
asked Godefroid。
〃That depends on himself；〃 she answered； smiling。 〃He must be
sincerely religious； truly pious； without the least self…interest； not
concerned about the riches of our house； able to rise above all petty
social considerations on the two wings which God has given us。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃Singleness of mind and purity；〃 replied Madame de la Chanterie。 〃Your
ignorance shows that you have neglected the reading of our book。〃 she
added； laughing at the innocent trick she had played to know if
Godefroid had read the 〃Imitation of Jesus Christ。〃 〃And； lastly；〃 she
went on； 〃fill your soul with Saint Paul's epistle upon Charity。 When
that is done；〃 she added； with a sublime look； 〃it will not be you who
belong to us； we shall belong to you； and you will be able to count up
greater riches than the sovereigns of this world possess； you will
enjoy as we enjoy； yes； let me tell you （if you remember the 'Arabian
Nights'） that the treasures of Aladdin are nothing to those we
possess。 And so for the last year we have not sufficed for our
affairs； and we needed； as you see； a book…keeper。〃
While speaking； she studied Godefroid's face； he； on his part； did not
know how to take this extraordinary confidence。 But as the scene in
the counting…room at Mongenod's came often to his mind； he hovered
between doubt and belief。
〃Ah； you will be very happy！〃 she said。
Godefroid was so consumed with curiosity that from this moment he
determined to break through the reserve of one of the four friends and
question him。 Now； the one to whom he felt the most drawn； and who
seemed naturally to excite the sympathies of all classes； was the
kind； gay； simple Monsieur Alain。 By what strange path could
Providence have led a being so guileless into this monastery without a
lock； where recluses of both sexes lived beneath a rule in the midst
of Paris； in absolute freedom； as though they were guarded by the
sternest of superiors？ What drama； what event； had made him leave his
own road in life； and take this path among the sorrows of the great
city？
Godefroid resolved to ask。
VII
MONSIEUR ALAIN TELLS HIS SECRETS
One evening Godefroid determined to pay a visit to his neighbor on the
floor above him； with the intention of satisfying a curiosity more
excited by the apparent impossibility of a catastrophe in such an
existence than it would have been under the expectation of discovering
some terrible episode in the life of a corsair。
At the words 〃Come in！〃 given in answer to two raps struck discreetly
on the door； Godefroid turned the key which was in the lock and found
Monsieur Alain sitting by the fire reading； before he went to bed； his
accustomed chapter in the 〃Imitation of Jesus Christ；〃 by the light of
two wax…candles； each protected by a moveable green shade； such as
whist…players use。
The goodman wore trousers /a pied/ and his gray camlet dressing…gown。
His feet were at a level with the fire； resting on a cushion done in
worsted…work； as were his slippers； by Madame de la Chanterie。 The
fine head of the old man； without other covering than its crown of
white hair； almost like that of a monk； stood out in clear relief
against the brown background of an enormous armchair。
Monsieur Alain gently laid his book； which was much worn at the
corners； on a little table with twisted legs； and signed to the young
man to take another chair； removing as he did so a pair of spectacles
which were hanging on the end of his nose。
〃Are you ill； that you have left your room at this hour？〃 he asked。
〃Dear Monsieur Alain；〃 said Godefroid； frankly； 〃I am tortured with a
curiosity which one word from you will make very harmless or very
indiscreet； and that explains clearly enough the spirit in which I
shall ask my question。〃
〃Oh！ oh！ and what is your question？〃 said the good soul； looking at
the young man with an eye that was half mischievous。
〃What was it that brought you here to lead the life that you live
here？ For； surely； to accept the doctrines of such total renunciation
of all personal interests； a man must have been disgusted with the
world； or else have injured others。〃
〃Eh！ my dear lad；〃 replied the old man； letting a smile flicker on his
large lips； which gave to his rosy mouth the kindliest expression that
the genius of a painter ever imagined； 〃can we not be moved to the
deepest pity by the spectacle of human wretchedness which Paris holds
within her walls？ Did Saint Vincent de Paul need the spur of remorse
or wounded vanity to make him devote himself to outcast children？〃
〃You close my mouth； for if ever a soul resembled that of the
Christian hero； it is yours；〃 said Godefroid。
In spite of the hardness which age had given to the wrinkled yellow
skin of his face； the old man blushed； for he seemed to have provoked
that comparison； though any one who knew his modesty would have been
certain he never dreamed of it。 Godefroid was aware by this time that
Madame de la Chanterie's inmates had no taste for that sort of
incense。 Nevertheless； the extreme simplicity of the good old soul was
more disturbed by this idea than a young girl would have been by an
improper thought。
〃Though I am very far indeed from Saint Vincent de Paul morally；〃 said
Monsieur Alain； 〃I think I do resemble him physically。〃
Godefroid was about to speak； but was stopped by a gesture of the old
man； whose nose； it must be owned； had the tuberous appearance of that
of the Saint； and whose face； a good deal like that of an old vine…
dresser； was an exa