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before the day when Birotteau went to live with her she had undertaken
to keep in health and contentment two priests； namely； Monsieur l'Abbe
Troubert and Monsieur l'Abbe Chapeloud。 The Abbe Troubert still lived。
The Abbe Chapeloud was dead； and Birotteau had stepped into his place。
The late Abbe Chapeloud； in life a canon of Saint…Gatien； had been an
intimate friend of the Abbe Birotteau。 Every time that the latter paid
a visit to the canon he had constantly admired the apartment； the
furniture and the library。 Out of this admiration grew the desire to
possess these beautiful things。 It had been impossible for the Abbe
Birotteau to stifle this desire； though it often made him suffer
terribly when he reflected that the death of his best friend could
alone satisfy his secret covetousness； which increased as time went
on。 The Abbe Chapeloud and his friend Birotteau were not rich。 Both
were sons of peasants； and their slender savings had been spent in the
mere costs of living during the disastrous years of the Revolution。
When Napoleon restored the Catholic worship the Abbe Chapeloud was
appointed canon of the cathedral and Birotteau was made vicar of it。
Chapeloud then went to board with Mademoiselle Gamard。 When Birotteau
first came to visit his friend； he thought the arrangement of the
rooms excellent； but he noticed nothing more。 The outset of this
concupiscence of chattels was very like that of a true passion； which
often begins； in a young man； with cold admiration for a woman whom he
ends in loving forever。
The apartment； reached by a stone staircase； was on the side of the
house that faced south。 The Abbe Troubert occupied the ground…floor；
and Mademoiselle Gamard the first floor of the main building； looking
on the street。 When Chapeloud took possession of his rooms they were
bare of furniture； and the ceilings were blackened with smoke。 The
stone mantelpieces； which were very badly cut； had never been painted。
At first； the only furniture the poor canon could put in was a bed； a
table； a few chairs； and the books he possessed。 The apartment was
like a beautiful woman in rags。 But two or three years later； an old
lady having left the Abbe Chapeloud two thousand francs； he spent that
sum on the purchase of an oak bookcase； the relic of a chateau pulled
down by the Bande Noire； the carving of which deserved the admiration
of all artists。 The abbe made the purchase less because it was very
cheap than because the dimensions of the bookcase exactly fitted the
space it was to fill in his gallery。 His savings enabled him to
renovate the whole gallery； which up to this time had been neglected
and shabby。 The floor was carefully waxed； the ceiling whitened； the
wood…work painted to resemble the grain and knots of oak。 A long table
in ebony and two cabinets by Boulle completed the decoration； and gave
to this gallery a certain air that was full of character。 In the
course of two years the liberality of devout persons； and legacies；
though small ones； from pious penitents； filled the shelves of the
bookcase； till then half empty。 Moreover； Chapeloud's uncle； an old
Oratorian； had left him his collection in folio of the Fathers of the
Church； and several other important works that were precious to a
priest。
Birotteau； more and more surprised by the successive improvements of
the gallery； once so bare； came by degrees to a condition of
involuntary envy。 He wished he could possess that apartment； so
thoroughly in keeping with the gravity of ecclestiastical life。 The
passion increased from day to day。 Working； sometimes for days
together； in this retreat； the vicar could appreciate the silence and
the peace that reigned there。 During the following year the Abbe
Chapeloud turned a small room into an oratory； which his pious friends
took pleasure in beautifying。 Still later； another lady gave the canon
a set of furniture for his bedroom； the covering of which she had
embroidered under the eyes of the worthy man without his ever
suspecting its destination。 The bedroom then had the same effect upon
the vicar that the gallery had long had； it dazzled him。 Lastly； about
three years before the Abbe Chapeloud's death； he completed the
comfort of his apartment by decorating the salon。 Though the furniture
was plainly covered in red Utrecht velvet； it fascinated Birotteau。
From the day when the canon's friend first laid eyes on the red damask
curtains； the mahogany furniture； the Aubusson carpet which adorned
the vast room； then lately painted； his envy of Chapeloud's apartment
became a monomania hidden within his breast。 To live there； to sleep
in that bed with the silk curtains where the canon slept； to have all
Chapeloud's comforts about him； would be； Birotteau felt； complete
happiness； he saw nothing beyond it。 All the envy； all the ambition
which the things of this world give birth to in the hearts of other
men concentrated themelves for Birotteau in the deep and secret
longing he felt for an apartment like that which the Abbe Chapeloud
had created for himself。 When his friend fell ill he went to him out
of true affection； but all the same； when he first heard of his
illness； and when he sat by his bed to keep him company； there arose
in the depths of his consciousness； in spite of himself； a crowd of
thoughts the simple formula of which was always； 〃If Chapeloud dies I
can have this apartment。〃 And yetBirotteau having an excellent
heart； contracted ideas； and a limited mindhe did not go so far as
to think of means by which to make his friend bequeath to him the
library and the furniture。
The Abbe Chapeloud； an amiable； indulgent egoist； fathomed his
friend's desiresnot a difficult thing to doand forgave them； which
may seem less easy to a priest； but it must be remembered that the
vicar； whose friendship was faithful； did not fail to take a daily
walk with his friend along their usual path in the Mail de Tours；
never once depriving him of an instant of the time devoted for over
twenty years to that exercise。 Birotteau； who regarded his secret
wishes as crimes； would have been capable； out of contrition； of the
utmost devotion to his friend。 The latter paid his debt of gratitude
for a friendship so ingenuously sincere by saying； a few days before
his death； as the vicar sat by him reading the 〃Quotidienne〃 aloud：
〃This time you will certainly get the apartment。 I feel it is all over
with me now。〃
Accordingly； it was found that the Abbe Chapeloud had left his library
and all his furniture to his friend Birotteau。 The possession of these
things； so keenly desired； and the prospect of being taken to board by
Mademoiselle Gamard； certainly did allay the grief which Birotteau
felt at the death of his friend the canon。 He might not have been
willing to resuscitate him； but he mourned him。 For several days he
was like Gargantus； who； when his wife died in giving birth to
Pantagruel； did not know whether to rejoice at the b