Красное и черное

A King at Verrieres

           "Itismydutytospeak,"hesaidtohimselfatlast.Butthebeautyofthehallhadmovedhim,andhewasalreadyupsetbytheharshwordsheanticipated.

           Theyoungmansawhiminthemirror,turnedround,andsuddenlydiscardinghisangrymanner,saidtohiminthegentlesttone,

           "Well,Monsieur,hasitbeenarrangedatlast?"

           Julienwasdumbfounded.Astheyoungmanbegantoturntowardshim,Juliensawthepectoralcrossonhisbreast.ItwasthebishopofAgde."Asyoungasthat,"thoughtJulien."AtmostsixoreightyearsolderthanIam!"

           Hewasashamedofhisspurs.

           "Monseigneur,"hesaidatlast,"IamsentbyM.Chélan,theseniorofthechapter."

           "Ah,hehasbeenwellrecommendedtome,"saidthebishopinapolishedtonewhichdoubledJulien’sdelight,"ButIbegyourpardon,Monsieur,Imistookyouforthepersonwhowastobringmemymitre.ItwasbadlypackedatParis.Thesilverclothtowardsthetophasbeenterriblyspoiled.Itwilllookawful,"endedtheyoungbishopsadly,"Andbesides,Iambeingkeptwaiting."

           "Monseigneur,Iwillgoandfetchthemitreifyourgracewillletme."

           Julien’sfineeyesdidtheirwork.

           "Go,Monsieur,"answeredthebishop,withcharmingpoliteness."Ineeditimmediately.Iamgrievedtokeepthegentlemenofthechapterwaiting."

           WhenJulienreachedthecentreofthehall,heturnedroundtowardsthebishop,andsawthathehadagaincommencedgivingbenedictions.

           "Whatcanitbe?"Julienaskedhimself."Nodoubtitisanecessaryecclesiasticalpreliminaryfortheceremonywhichistotakeplace.

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