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〃He is not much a man of the world；〃 she said。 〃If it had not been for
the Abbe Chapeloud he would never have been received at Madame de
Listomere's。 Oh； what didn't I lose in losing the Abbe Chapeloud！ Such
an amiable man； and so easy to live with！ In twelve whole years I
never had the slightest difficulty or disagreement with him。〃
Presented thus； the innocent abbe was considered by this bourgeois
society； which secretly hated the aristocratic society； as a man
essentially exacting and hard to get along with。 For a week
Mademoiselle Gamard enjoyed the pleasure of being pitied by friends
who； without really thinking one word of what they said； kept
repeating to her： 〃How COULD he have turned against you？so kind and
gentle as you are！〃 or； 〃Console yourself； dear Mademoiselle Gamard；
you are so well known that〃 et cetera。
Nevertheless； these friends； enchanted to escape one evening a week in
the Cloister； the darkest； dreariest； and most out of the way corner
in Tours； blessed the poor vicar in their hearts。
Between persons who are perpetually in each other's company dislike or
love increases daily； every moment brings reasons to love or hate each
other more and more。 The Abbe Birotteau soon became intolerable to
Mademoiselle Gamard。 Eighteen months after she had taken him to board；
and at the moment when the worthy man was mistaking the silence of
hatred for the peacefulness of content； and applauding himself for
having； as he said； 〃managed matters so well with the old maid；〃 he
was really the object of an underhand persecution and a vengeance
deliberately planned。 The four marked circumstances of the locked
door； the forgotten slippers； the lack of fire； and the removal of the
candlestick； were the first signs that revealed to him a terrible
enmity； the final consequences of which were destined not to strike
him until the time came when they were irreparable。
As he went to bed the worthy vicar worked his brainsquite uselessly；
for he was soon at the end of themto explain to himself the
extraordinarily discourteous conduct of Mademoiselle Gamard。 The fact
was that； having all along acted logically in obeying the natural laws
of his own egotism； it was impossible that he should now perceive his
own faults towards his landlady。
Though the great things of life are simple to understand and easy to
express； the littlenesses require a vast number of details to explain
them。 The foregoing events； which may be called a sort of prologue to
this bourgeois drama； in which we shall find passions as violent as
those excited by great interests； required this long introduction； and
it would have been difficult for any faithful historian to shorten the
account of these minute developments。
II
The next morning； on awaking； Birotteau thought so much of his
prospective canonry that he forgot the four circumstances in which he
had seen； the night before； such threatening prognostics of a future
full of misery。 The vicar was not a man to get up without a fire。 He
rang to let Marianne know that he was awake and that she must come to
him； then he remained； as his habit was； absorbed in somnolent
musings。 The servant's custom was to make the fire and gently draw him
from his half sleep by the murmured sound of her movements；a sort of
music which he loved。 Twenty minutes passed and Marianne had not
appeared。 The vicar； now half a canon； was about to ring again； when
he let go the bell…pull； hearing a man's step on the staircase。 In a
minute more the Abbe Troubert； after discreetly knocking at the door；
obeyed Birotteau's invitation and entered the room。 This visit； which
the two abbe's usually paid each other once a month； was no surprise
to the vicar。 The canon at once exclaimed when he saw that Marianne
had not made the fire of his quasi…colleague。 He opened the window and
called to her harshly； telling her to come at once to the abbe； then；
turning round to his ecclesiastical brother； he said； 〃If Mademoiselle
knew that you had no fire she would scold Marianne。〃
After this speech he inquired about Birotteau's health； and asked in a
gentle voice if he had had any recent news that gave him hopes of his
canonry。 The vicar explained the steps he had taken； and told；
naively； the names of the persons with whom Madam de Listomere was
using her influence； quite unaware that Troubert had never forgiven
that lady for not admitting himthe Abbe Troubert； twice proposed by
the bishop as vicar…general！to her house。
It would be impossible to find two figures which presented so many
contrasts to each other as those of the two abbes。 Troubert； tall and
lean； was yellow and bilious； while the vicar was what we call；
familiarly； plump。 Birotteau's face； round and ruddy； proclaimed a
kindly nature barren of ideas； while that of the Abbe Troubert； long
and ploughed by many wrinkles； took on at times an expression of
sarcasm； or else of contempt； but it was necessary to watch him very
closely before those sentiments could be detected。 The canon's
habitual condition was perfect calmness； and his eyelids were usually
lowered over his orange…colored eyes； which could； however； give clear
and piercing glances when he liked。 Reddish hair added to the gloomy
effect of this countenance； which was always obscured by the veil
which deep meditation drew across its features。 Many persons at first
sight thought him absorbed in high and earnest ambitions； but those
who claimed to know him better denied that impression； insisting that
he was only stupidly dull under Mademoiselle Gamard's despotism； or
else worn out by too much fasting。 He seldom spoke； and never laughed。
When it did so happen that he felt agreeably moved； a feeble smile
would flicker on his lips and lose itself in the wrinkles of his face。
Birotteau； on the other hand； was all expansion； all frankness； he
loved good things and was amused by trifles with the simplicity of a
man who knew no spite or malice。 The Abbe Troubert roused； at first
sight； an involuntary feeling of fear； while the vicar's presence
brought a kindly smile to the lips of all who looked at him。 When the
tall canon marched with solemn step through the naves and cloisters of
Saint…Gatien； his head bowed； his eye stern； respect followed him；
that bent face was in harmony with the yellowing arches of the
cathedral； the folds of his cassock fell in monumental lines that were
worthy of statuary。 The good vicar； on the contrary； perambulated
about with no gravity at all。 He trotted and ambled and seemed at
times to roll himself along。 But with all this there was one point of
resemblance between the two men。 For； precisely as Troubert's
ambitious air； which made him feared； had contributed probably to keep
him down to the insignificant position of a mere canon； so the
character and ways of Birotteau marked him out as perpetually the
vicar of the cathedral and nothing higher。
Yet the Abbe Troube