Красное и черное

The First Step

           IhaveonlybeenoutoftheseminaryaloneonceinmylifetogoandhelpM.theabbéChas-BernarddecoratethecathedralonCorpusChristiday.

           "Optime,"saidtheBishop."So,itisyouwhoshowedproofofsomuchcouragebyplacingthebouquetsoffeathersonthebaldachin.Theymakemeshudder.Theymakemefearthattheywillcostsomemanhislife.Youwillgofar,myfriend,butIdonotwishtocutshortyourbrilliantcareerbymakingyoudieofhunger."

           AndbytheorderoftheBishop,biscuitsandwinewerebroughtin,towhichJuliendidhonour,andtheabbédeFrilair,whoknewthathisBishoplikedtoseepeopleeatgailyandwithagoodappetite,evengreaterhonour.

           Theprelate,moreandmoresatisfiedwiththeendofhisevening,talkedforamomentofecclesiasticalhistory.HesawthatJuliendidnotunderstand.TheprelatepassedontothemoralconditionoftheRomanEmpireunderthesystemoftheEmperorConstantine.Theendofpaganismhadbeenaccompaniedbythatstateofanxietyandofdoubtwhichafflictssadandjadedspiritsinthenineteenthcentury.MyLordnoticedJulien’signoranceofalmosttheverynameofTacitus.Totheastonishmentoftheprelate,Julienansweredfranklythatthatauthorwasnottobefoundintheseminarylibrary.

           "Iamtrulyveryglad,"saidtheBishopgaily,"Yourelievemeofanembarrassment.IhavebeentryingforthelastfiveminutestofindawayofthankingyouforthecharmingeveningwhichyouhavegivenmeinawaythatIcouldcertainlyneverhaveexpected.Ididnotanticipatefindingateacherinapupilinmyseminary.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 289 из 702