Червоне та чорне

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.

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Roboto Lora
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