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forgiveness before she died。
The Abbe Troubert followed the body of his friend to the grave； at the
verge of which he delivered a discourse in which； thanks to his
eloquence； the narrow life the old maid had lived was enlarged to
monumental proportions。 Those present took particular note of the
following words in the peroration：
〃This life of days devoted to God and to His religion； a life adorned
with noble actions silently performed； and with modest and hidden
virtues； was crushed by a sorrow which we might call undeserved if we
could forget； here at the verge of this grave； that our afflictions
are sent by God。 The numerous friends of this saintly woman； knowing
the innocence and nobility of her soul； foresaw that she would issue
safely from her trials in spite of the accusations which blasted her
life。 It may be that Providence has called her to the bosom of God to
withdraw her from those trials。 Happy they who can rest here below in
the peace of their own hearts as Sophie now is resting in her robe of
innocence among the blest。〃
〃When he had ended his pompous discourse；〃 said Monsieur de Bourbonne；
after relating the incidents of the internment to Madame de Listomere
when whist was over； the doors shut； and they were alone with the
baron； 〃this Louis XI。 in a cassockimagine him if you can！gave a
last flourish to the sprinkler and aspersed the coffin with holy
water。〃 Monsieur de Bourbonne picked up the tongs and imitated the
priest's gesture so satirically that the baron and his aunt could not
help laughing。 〃Not until then；〃 continued the old gentleman； 〃did he
contradict himself。 Up to that time his behavior had been perfect； but
it was no doubt impossible for him to put the old maid； whom he
despised so heartily and hated almost as much as he hated Chapeloud；
out of sight forever without allowing his joy to appear in that last
gesture。〃
The next day Mademoiselle Salomon came to breakfast with Madame de
Listomere； chiefly to say； with deep emotion： 〃Our poor Abbe Birotteau
has just received a frightful blow； which shows the most determined
hatred。 He is appointed curate of Saint…Symphorien。〃
Saint…Symphorien is a suburb of Tours lying beyond the bridge。 That
bridge； one of the finest monuments of French architecture； is
nineteen hundred feet long； and the two open squares which surround
each end are precisely alike。
〃Don't you see the misery of it？〃 she said； after a pause； amazed at
the coldness with which Madame de Listomere received the news。 〃It is
just as if the abbe were a hundred miles from Tours； from his friends；
from everything！ It is a frightful exile； and all the more cruel
because he is kept within sight of the town where he can hardly ever
come。 Since his troubles he walks very feebly； yet he will have to
walk three miles to see his old friends。 He has taken to his bed； just
now； with fever。 The parsonage at Saint…Symphorien is very cold and
damp； and the parish is too poor to repair it。 The poor old man will
be buried in a living tomb。 Oh； it is an infamous plot！〃
To end this history it will suffice to relate a few events in a simple
way； and to give one last picture of its chief personages。
Five months later the vicar…general was made Bishop of Troyes； and
Madame de Listomere was dead； leaving an annuity of fifteen hundred
francs to the Abbe Birotteau。 The day on which the dispositions in her
will were made known Monseigneur Hyacinthe； Bishop of Troyes； was on
the point of leaving Tours to reside in his diocese； but he delayed
his departure on receiving the news。 Furious at being foiled by a
woman to whom he had lately given his countenance while she had been
secretly holding the hand of a man whom he regarded as his enemy；
Troubert again threatened the baron's future career； and put in
jeopardy the peerage of his uncle。 He made in the salon of the
archbishop； and before an assembled party； one of those priestly
speeches which are big with vengeance and soft with honied mildness。
The Baron de Listomere went the next day to see this implacable enemy；
who must have imposed sundry hard conditions on him； for the baron's
subsequent conduct showed the most entire submission to the will of
the terrible Jesuit。
The new bishop made over Mademoiselle Gamard's house by deed of gift
to the Chapter of the cathedral； he gave Chapeloud's books and
bookcases to the seminary； he presented the two disputed pictures to
the Chapel of the Virgin； but he kept Chapeloud's portrait。 No one
knew how to explain this almost total renunciation of Mademoiselle
Gamard's bequest。 Monsieur de Bourbonne supposed that the bishop had
secretly kept moneys that were invested； so as to support his rank
with dignity in Paris； where of course he would take his seat on the
Bishops' bench in the Upper Chamber。 It was not until the night before
Monseigneur Troubert's departure from Tours that the sly old fox
unearthed the hidden reason of this strange action； the deathblow
given by the most persistent vengeance to the feeblest of victims。
Madame de Listomere's legacy to Birotteau was contested by the Baron
de Listomere under a pretence of undue influence！
A few days after the case was brought the baron was promoted to the
rank of captain。 As a measure of ecclesiastical discipline； the curate
of Saint…Symphorien was suspended。 His superiors judged him guilty。
The murderer of Sophie Gamard was also a swindler。 If Monseigneur
Troubert had kept Mademoiselle Gamard's property he would have found
it difficult to make the ecclestiastical authorities censure
Birotteau。
At the moment when Monseigneur Hyacinthe； Bishop of Troyes； drove
along the quay Saint…Symphorien in a post…chaise on his way to Paris
poor Birotteau had been placed in an armchair in the sun on a terrace
above the road。 The unhappy priest； smitten by the archbishop； was
pale and haggard。 Grief； stamped on every feature； distorted the face
that was once so mildly gay。 Illness had dimmed his eyes； formerly
brightened by the pleasures of good living and devoid of serious
ideas； with a veil which simulated thought。 It was but the skeleton of
the old Birotteau who had rolled only one year earlier so vacuous but
so content along the Cloister。 The bishop cast one look of pity and
contempt upon his victim； then he consented to forget him； and went
his way。
There is no doubt that Troubert would have been in other times a
Hildebrand or an Alexander the Sixth。 In these days the Church is no
longer a political power； and does not absorb the whole strength of
her solitaries。 Celibacy； however； presents the inherent vice of
concentating the faculties of man upon a single passion； egotism；
which renders celibates either useless or mischievous。 We live at a
period when the defect of governments is to make Man for Society
rather than Society for Man。 There is a perpetual struggle going on
between the Individual and the Social system which insis