Красное и черное

The First Step

           

           TheBishopofBesançon,amanwhosespirithadbeentriedbutnotbrokenbythelongmiseriesoftheemigration,wasmorethanseventy-fiveyearsoldandconcernedhimselfinfinitelylittlewithwhatmighthappenintenyears’time.

           "Whoisthatclever-lookingseminaristIthinkIsawasIpassed?"saidtheBishop."Oughtn’ttheytobeinbedaccordingtomyregulations."

           "Thatoneisverywide-awakeIassureyou,myLord,andhebringsgreatnews.ItistheresignationoftheonlyJansenistresidinginyourdiocese,thatterribleabbéPirardrealisesatlastthatwemeanbusiness."

           "Well,"saidtheBishopwithalaugh."Ichallengeyoutoreplacehimwithanymanofequalworth,andtoshowyouhowmuchIprizethatman,Iwillinvitehimtodinnerforto-morrow."

           TheGrandVicartriedtoslideinafewwordsconcerningthechoiceofasuccessor.Theprelate,whowaslittledisposedtotalkbusiness,saidtohim.

           "Beforeweinstalltheother,letusgettoknowalittleofthecircumstancesunderwhichthepresentoneisgoing.Fetchmethisseminarist.Thetruthisinthemouthofchildren."

           Julienwassummoned."Ishallfindmyselfbetweentwoinquisitors,"hethought.Hehadneverfeltmorecourageous.Atthemomentwhenheentered,twovalets,betterdressedthanM.Valenodhimself,wereundressingmylord.ThatprelatethoughtheoughttoquestionJulienonhisstudiesbeforequestioninghimaboutM.Pirard.Hetalkedalittletheology,andwasastonished.Hesooncametothehumanities,toVirgil,toHorace,toCicero."Itwasthosenames,"thoughtJulien,thatearnedmemynumber198.Ihavenothingtolose.

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