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sight which caused him as painful an emotion as he formerly felt when
a young man passed him riding to the Bois； or driving in an elegant
equipage。 The sense of his impotence told him that he could never hope
for the best of even secondary positions； nor for any easily won
career； and he had heart enough to feel constantly wounded； mind
enough to make in his own breast the bitterest of elegies。
Unfitted to struggle against circumstances； having an inward
consciousness of superior faculties without the will that could put
them in action； feeling himself incomplete； without force to undertake
any great thing； without resistance against the tastes derived from
his earlier life； his education； and his indolence； he was the victim
of three maladies； any one of which would be enough to sicken of life
a young man long alienated from religious faith。
Thus it was that Godefroid presented； even to the eye； the face that
we meet so often in Paris that it might be called the type of the
Parisian； in it we may see ambitions deceived or dead； inward
wretchedness； hatred sleeping in the indolence of a life passed in
watching the daily and external life of Paris； apathy which seeks
stimulation； lament without talent； a mimicry of strength； the venom
of past disappointments which excites to cynicism； and spits upon all
that enlarges and grows； misconceives all necessary authority；
rejoicing in its embarrassments； and will not hold to any social form。
This Parisian malady is to the active and permanent impulse towards
conspiracy in persons of energy what the sapwood is to the sap of the
trees； it preserves it； feeds it； and conceals it。
II
OLD HOUSE； OLD PEOPLE； OLD CUSTOMS
Weary of himself； Godefroid attempted one day to give a meaning to his
life； after meeting a former comrade who had been the tortoise in the
fable； while he in earlier days had been the hare。 In one of those
conversations which arise when schoolmates meet again in after years；
a conversation held as they were walking together in the sunshine on
the boulevard des Italiens；he was startled to learn the success of a
man endowed apparently with less gifts； less means； less fortune than
himself； but who had bent his will each morning to the purpose
resolved upon the night before。 The sick soul then determined to
imitate that simple action。
〃Social existence is like the soil；〃 his comrade had said to him； 〃it
makes us a return in proportion to our efforts。〃
Godefroid was in debt。 As a first test； a first task； he resolved to
live in some retired place； and pay his debts from his income。 To a
man accustomed to spend six thousand francs when he had but five； it
was no small undertaking to bring himself to live on two thousand。
Every morning he studied advertisements； hoping to find the offer of
some asylum where his expenses could be fixed； where he might have the
solitude a man wants when he makes a return upon himself； examines
himself； and endeavors to give himself a vocation。 The manners and
customs of bourgeois boarding…houses shocked his delicacy； sanitariums
seemed to him unhealthy； and he was about to fall back into the fatal
irresolution of persons without will； when the following advertisement
met his eye：
〃To Let。 A small lodging for seventy francs a month； suitable for
an ecclesiastic。 A quiet tenant desired。 Board supplied； the rooms
can be furnished at a moderate cost if mutually acceptable。
〃Inquire of M。 Millet； grocer； rue Chanoinesse； near Notre…Dame；
where all further information can be obtained。〃
Attracted by a certain kindliness concealed beneath these words； and
the middle…class air which exhaled from them； Godefroid had； on the
afternoon when we found him on the quay； called at four o'clock on the
grocer； who told him that Madame de la Chanterie was then dining； and
did not receive any one when at her meals。 The lady； he said； was
visible in the evening after seven o'clock； or in the morning between
ten and twelve。 While speaking； Monsieur Millet examined Godefroid；
and made him submit to what magistrates call the 〃first degree of
interrogation。〃
〃Was monsieur unmarried？ Madame wished a person of regular habits； the
gate was closed at eleven at the latest。 Monsieur certainly seemed of
an age to suit Madame de la Chanterie。〃
〃How old do you think me？〃 asked Godefroid。
〃About forty！〃 replied the grocer。
This ingenuous answer threw the young man into a state of misanthropic
gloom。 He went off and dined at a restaurant on the quai de la
Tournelle； and afterwards went to the parapet to contemplate Notre…
Dame at the moment when the fires of the setting sun were rippling and
breaking about the manifold buttresses of the apsis。
The young man was floating between the promptings of despair and the
moving voice of religious harmonies sounding in the bell of the
cathedral when； amid the shadows； the silence； the half…veiled light
of the moon； he heard the words of the priest。 Though； like most of
the sons of our century； he was far from religious； his sensibilities
were touched by those words； and he returned to the rue Chanoinesse；
although he had almost made up his mind not to do so。
The priest and Godefroid were both surprised when they entered
together the rue Massilon； which is opposite to the small north portal
of the cathedral； and turned together into the rue Chanoinesse； at the
point where； towards the rue de la Colombe； it becomes the rue des
Marmousets。 When Godefroid stopped before the arched portal of Madame
de la Chanterie's house； the priest turned towards him and examined
him by the light of the hanging street…lamp； probably one of the last
to disappear from the heart of old Paris。
〃Have you come to see Madame de la Chanterie； monsieur？〃 said the
priest。
〃Yes；〃 replied Godefroid。 〃The words I heard you say to that workman
show me that； if you live here； this house must be salutary for the
soul。〃
〃Then you were a witness of my defeat；〃 said the priest； raising the
knocker of the door； 〃for I did not succeed。〃
〃I thought； on the contrary； it was the workman who did not succeed；
he demanded money energetically。〃
〃Alas！〃 replied the priest； 〃one of the great evils of revolutions in
France is that each offers a fresh premium to the ambitions of the
lower classes。 To get out of his condition； to make his fortune （which
is regarded to…day as the only social standard）； the working…man
throws himself into some of those monstrous associations which； if
they do not succeed； ought to bring the speculators to account before
human justice。 This is what trusts often lead to。〃
The porter opened a heavy door。 The priest said to Godefroid：
〃Monsieur has perhaps come about the little suite of rooms？〃
〃Yes； monsieur。〃
The priest and Godefroid then crossed a wide courtyard； at the farther
end of which loomed darkly a tall house flanked by a square tower
which rose above the roof； and appeared to be in a dilapidated
condition。 Whoever knows the history of Paris； knows that the soil
before and around the cathedral has been so raised that there is not a
vestige now of the twelve steps which formerly led up to i