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ot of those who would drag his cloth through the mire。 Not until the darkness he loved so fervently covered the earth would he escape from the dull respectability of Entrammes； nor did he ever thus escape unaccompanied by his famous valise。 The grey suit was an effectual disguise to his calling； and so jealous was he of the Church's honour that he neverunless in his cupsdisclosed his tonsure。 One of his innumerable loves confessed in the witness…box that Bruneau always retained his hat in the glare of the Caf was never guilty of a meanness。 The less guilty scheme was speedily staled； and then it was that the Abb was still impoverished。 Already he had robbed his vicar； and the suspicion of the Abb
MONSIEUR L'ABB Rosselot is as secret as his origin； and no man may know whether Belfort or Bavaria smiled upon his innocence。 A like mystery enshrouds his early manhood； and the malice of his foes； who are legion； denounces him for a Jesuit of Innsbruck。 But since he has lived within the eye of the world his villainies have been revealed as clearly as his attainments； and history provides him no other rival in the corruption of youth than the infamous Thwackum。
It is not every scholar's ambition to teach the elements； and Rosselot adopted his modest calling as a cloak of crime。 No sooner was he installed in a mansion than he became the mansion's master； and henceforth he ruled his employer's domain with the tyrannical severity of a Grand Inquisitor。 His soul wrapped in the triple brass of arrogance； he even dared to lay his hands upon food before his betters were served； and presently； emboldened by success； he would order the dinners； reproach the cook with a too lavish use of condiments； and descend with insolent expostulation into the kitchen。 In a week he had opened the cupboards upon a dozen skeletons； and made them rattle their rickety bones up and down the draughty staircases； until the inmates shivered with horror and the terrified neighbours fled the haunted castle as a lazar…house。 On