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for you。〃
The vicar looked at the clock in the dining…room； and saw at once； by
the way the gauze which protected it from dust had been moved； that
his landlady had opened the face of the dial and set the hands in
advance of the clock of the cathedral。 He could make no remark。 Had he
uttered his suspicion it would only have caused and apparently
justified one of those fierce and eloquent expositions to which
Mademoiselle Gamard； like other women of her class； knew very well how
to give vent in particular cases。 The thousand and one annoyances
which a servant will sometimes make her master bear； or a woman her
husband； were instinctively divined by Mademoiselle Gamard and used
upon Birotteau。 The way in which she delighted in plotting against the
poor vicar's domestic comfort bore all the marks of what we must call
a profoundly malignant genius。 Yet she so managed that she was never；
so far as eye could see； in the wrong。
III
Eight days after the date on which this history began； the new
arrangements of the household and the relations which grew up between
the Abbe Birotteau and Mademoiselle Gamard revealed to the former the
existence of a plot which had been hatching for the last six months。
As long as the old maid exercised her vengeance in an underhand way；
and the vicar was able to shut his eyes to it and refuse to believe in
her malevolent intentions； the moral effect upon him was slight。 But
since the affair of the candlestick and the altered clock； Birotteau
would doubt no longer that he was under an eye of hatred turned fully
upon him。 From that moment he fell into despair； seeing everywhere the
skinny； clawlike fingers of Mademoiselle Gamard ready to hook into his
heart。 The old maid； happy in a sentiment as fruitful of emotions as
that of vengeance； enjoyed circling and swooping above the vicar as a
bird of prey hovers and swoops above a field…mouse before pouncing
down upon it and devouring it。 She had long since laid a plan which
the poor dumbfounded priest was quite incapable of imagining； and
which she now proceeded to unfold with that genius for little things
often shown by solitary persons； whose souls； incapable of feeling the
grandeur of true piety； fling themselves into the details of outward
devotion。
The petty nature of his troubles prevented Birotteau； always effusive
and liking to be pitied and consoled； from enjoying the soothing
pleasure of taking his friends into his confidence；a last but cruel
aggravation of his misery。 The little amount of tact which he derived
from his timidity made him fear to seem ridiculous in concerning
himself with such pettiness。 And yet those petty things made up the
sum of his existence；that cherished existence； full of busyness
about nothings； and of nothingness in its business； a colorless barren
life in which strong feelings were misfortunes； and the absence of
emotion happiness。 The poor priest's paradise was changed； in a
moment； into hell。 His sufferings became intolerable。 The terror he
felt at the prospect of a discussion with Mademoiselle Gamard
increased day by day； the secret distress which blighted his life
began to injure his health。 One morning； as he put on his mottled blue
stockings； he noticed a marked dimunition in the circumference of his
calves。 Horrified by so cruel and undeniable a symptom； he resolved to
make an effort and appeal to the Abbe Troubert； requesting him to
intervene； officially； between Mademoiselle Gamard and himself。
When he found himself in presence of the imposing canon； who； in order
to receive his visitor in a bare and cheerless room； had hastily
quitted a study full of papers； where he worked incessantly； and where
no one was ever admitted； the vicar felt half ashamed at speaking of
Mademoiselle Gamard's provocations to a man who appeared to be so
gravely occupied。 But after going through the agony of the mental
deliberations which all humble； undecided； and feeble persons endure
about things of even no importance； he decided； not without much
swelling and beating of the heart； to explain his position to the Abbe
Troubert。
The canon listened in a cold； grave manner； trying； but in vain； to
repress an occasional smile which to more intelligent eyes than those
of the vicar might have betrayed the emotions of a secret
satisfaction。 A flame seemed to dart from his eyelids when Birotteau
pictured with the eloquence of genuine feeling the constant bitterness
he was made to swallow； but Troubert laid his hand above those lids
with a gesture very common to thinkers； maintaining the dignified
demeanor which was usual with him。 When the vicar had ceased to speak
he would indeed have been puzzled had he sought on Troubert's face；
marbled with yellow blotches even more yellow than his usually bilious
skin； for any trace of the feelings he must have excited in that
mysterious priest。
After a moment's silence the canon made one of those answers which
required long study before their meaning could be thoroughly
perceived； though later they proved to reflecting persons the
astonishing depths of his spirit and the power of his mind。 He simply
crushed Birotteau by telling him that 〃these things amazed him all the
more because he should never have suspected their existence were it
not for his brother's confession。 He attributed such stupidity on his
part to the gravity of his occupations； his labors； the absorption in
which his mind was held by certain elevated thoughts which prevented
his taking due notice of the petty details of life。〃 He made the vicar
observe； but without appearing to censure the conduct of a man whose
age and connections deserved all respect； that 〃in former days；
recluses thought little about their food and lodging in the solitude
of their retreats； where they were lost in holy contemplations；〃 and
that 〃in our days； priests could make a retreat for themselves in the
solitude of their own hearts。〃 Then； reverting to Birotteau's affairs；
he added that 〃such disagreements were a novelty to him。 For twelve
years nothing of the kind had occurred between Mademoiselle Gamard and
the venerable Abbe Chapeloud。 As for himself； he might； no doubt； be
an arbitrator between the vicar and their landlady； because his
friendship for that person had never gone beyond the limits imposed by
the Church on her faithful servants； but if so； justice demanded that
he should hear both sides。 He certainly saw no change in Mademoiselle
Gamard； who seemed to him the same as ever； he had always submitted to
a few of her caprices； knowing that the excellent woman was kindness
and gentleness itself； the slight fluctuations of her temper should be
attributed； he thought； to sufferings caused by a pulmonary affection；
of which she said little； resigning herself to bear them in a truly
Christian spirit。〃 He ended by assuring the vicar that 〃if he stayed a
few years longer in Mademoiselle Gamard's house he would learn t