the brotherhood of consolation-第13章

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Alain；　tranquilly。　〃About　this　time　it　was　that　I　made　the
acquaintance　of　a　judge　of　the　Lower　Civil　Court　of　the　Seine　named
Popinot；　whom　we　had　the　great　grief　of　losing　three　years　ago；　and
who　practised　for　fifteen　years　an　active　and　most　intelligent　charity
in　the　quartier　Saint…Marcel。　It　was　he；　with　the　venerable　vicar　of
Notre…Dame　and　Madame；　who　first　thought　of　founding　the　work　in　which
we　are　now　co…operating；　and　which；　since　1825；　has　quietly　done　much
good。　This　work　has　found　its　soul　in　Madame　de　la　Chanterie；　for　she
is　truly　the　inspiration　of　this　enterprise。　The　vicar　has　known　how
to　make　us　more　religious　than　we　were　at　first；　by　showing　us　the
necessity　of　being　virtuous　ourselves　in　order　to　inspire　virtue；　in
short；　to　preach　by　example。　The　farther　we　have　advanced　in　our　work；
the　happier　we　have　mutually　found　ourselves。　And　so；　you　see；　it
really　was　the　repentance　I　felt　for　misconceiving　the　heart　of　my
friend　which　gave　me　the　idea　of　devoting　to　the　poor；　through　my　own
hands；　the　fortune　he　returned　to　me；　and　which　I　accepted　without
objecting　to　the　immensity　of　the　sum　returned　in　proportion　to　the
sum　lent。　Its　destination　justified　my　taking　it。〃

This　narration；　made　quietly；　without　assumption；　but　with　a　gentle
kindliness　in　accent；　look；　and　gesture；　would　have　inspired　Godefroid
to　enter　this　noble　and　sacred　association　if　his　resolution　had　not
already　been　taken。

〃You　know　the　world　very　little；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　have　such　scruples
about　a　matter　that　would　not　weigh　on　any　other　man's　conscience。〃

〃I　know　only　the　unfortunate；〃　said　Monsieur　Alain。　〃I　do　not　desire
to　know　a　world　in　which　men　are　so　little　afraid　of　judging　one
another。　But　see！　it　is　almost　midnight；　and　I　still　have　my　chapter
of　the　'Imitation　of　Jesus　Christ'　to　meditate　upon！　Good…night！〃

Godefroid　took　the　old　man's　hand　and　pressed　it；　with　an　expression
of　admiration。

〃Can　you　tell　me　Madame　de　la　Chanterie's　history？〃

〃Impossible；　without　her　consent；〃　replied　Monsieur　Alain；　〃for　it　is
connected　with　one　of　the　most　terrible　events　of　Imperial　policy。　It
was　through　my　friend　Bordin　that　I　first　knew　Madame。　He　had　in　his
possession　all　the　secrets　of　that　noble　life；　it　was　he　who；　if　I　may
say　so；　led　me　to　this　house。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃for　having　told　me　your　life；　there
are　many　lessons　in　it　for　me。〃

〃Do　you　know　what　is　the　moral　of　it？〃

〃Tell　me；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃for　perhaps　I　may　see　something　different
in　it　from　what　you　see。〃

〃Well；　it　is　this：　that　pleasure　is　an　accident　in　a　Christian's　life；
it　is　not　the　aim　of　it；　and　this　we　learn　too　late。〃

〃What　happens　when　we　turn　to　Christianity？〃　asked　Godefroid。

〃See！〃　said　the　goodman。

He　pointed　with　his　finger　to　some　letters　of　gold　on　a　black　ground
which　the　new　lodger　had　not　observed；　for　this　was　the　first　time　he
had　ever　been　in　Monsieur　Alain's　room。　Godefroid　turned　and　read　the
words：　TRANSIRE　BENEFACIENDO。

〃That　is　our　motto。　If　you　become　one　of　us；　that　will　be　your　only
commission。　We　read　that　commission；　which　we　have　given　to　ourselves；
at　all　times；　in　the　morning　when　we　rise；　in　the　evening　when　we　lie
down；　and　when　we　are　dressing。　Ah！　if　you　did　but　know　what　immense
pleasures　there　are　in　accomplishing　that　motto！〃

〃Such　as？〃　said　Godefroid；　hoping　for　further　revelations。

〃I　must　tell　you　that　we　are　as　rich　as　Baron　de　Nucingen　himself。　But
the　'Imitation　of　Jesus　Christ'　forbids　us　to　regard　our　wealth　as　our
own。　We　are　only　the　spenders　of　it；　and　if　we　had　any　pride　in　being
that；　we　should　not　be　worthy　of　dispensing　it。　It　would　not　be
/transire　benefaciendo/；　it　would　be　inward　enjoyment。　For　if　you　say
to　yourself　with　a　swelling　of　the　nostrils；　'I　play　the　part　of
Providence！'　（as　you　might　have　thought　if　you　had　been　in　my　place
this　morning　and　saved　the　future　lives　of　a　whole　family）；　you　would
become　a　Sardanapalus；an　evil　one！　None　of　these　gentlemen　living
here　thinks　of　himself　when　he　does　good。　All　vanity；　all　pride；　all
self…love；　must　be　stripped　off；　and　that　is　hard　to　do；yes；　very
hard。〃

Godefroid　bade　him　good…night；　and　returned　to　his　own　room；　deeply
affected　by　this　narrative。　But　his　curiosity　was　more　whetted　than
satisfied；　for　the　central　figure　of　the　picture　was　Madame　de　la
Chanterie。　The　history　of　the　life　of　that　woman　became　of　the　utmost
importance　to　him；　so　that　he　made　the　obtaining　of　it　the　object　of
his　stay　in　that　house。　He　already　perceived　in　this　association　of
five　persons　a　vast　enterprise　of　Charity；　but　he　thought　far　less　of
that　than　he　did　of　its　heroine。



VIII

WHO　SHE　WASWIFE　AND　MOTHER

The　would…be　disciple　passed　many　days　in　observing　more　carefully
than　he　had　hitherto　done　the　rare　persons　among　whom　fate　had　brought
him；　and　he　became　the　subject　of　a　moral　phenomenon　which　modern
philosophers　have　despised；possibly　out　of　ignorance。

The　sphere　in　which　he　lived　had　a　positive　action　upon　Godefroid。　The
laws　which　regulate　the　physical　nature　under　relation　to　the
atmospheric　environment　in　which　it　is　developed；　rule　also　in　the
moral　nature。　Hence　it　follows　that　the　assembling　together　of
condemned　prisoners　is　one　of　the　greatest　of　social　crimes；　and　also
that　their　isolation　is　an　experiment　of　doubtful　success。　Condemned
criminals　ought　to　be　in　religious　institutions；　surrounded　by
prodigies　of　Good；　instead　of　being　cast　as　they　are　into　sight　and
knowledge　of　Evil　only。　The　Church　can　be　expected　to　show　an　absolute
devotion　in　this　matter。　If　it　sends　missionaries　to　heathen　or　savage
nations；　with　how　much　greater　joy　would　it　welcome　the　mission　of
redeeming　the　heathen　of　civilization？　for　all　criminals　are　atheists；
and　often　without　knowing　they　are　so。

Godefroid　found　these　five　associated　persons　endowed　with　the
qualities　they　required　in　him。　They　were　all　without　pride；　without
vanity；　truly　humble　and　pious；　also　without　any　of　the　pretension
which　constitutes　/devotion/；　using　that　word　in　its　worst　sense。
These　virtues　were　contagious；　he　was　filled　with　a　desire　to　imitate
these　hidden　heroes；　and　he　ended　by　passionately　studying　the　book　he
had　begun　by　despising。　Within　two　weeks　he　reduced　his　views　of　life
to　its　simplest　lines；to　what　it　really　/is/　when　we　consider　it
from　the　higher　point　of　view　to　which　the　Divine　spirit　leads　us。　His
curiosityworldly　at　first；　and　excited　by　many　vulgar　and　material
motivespurified　itself；　if　he　did　not　renounce　it　altogether；　the
fault　was　not　his；　any　one　would　have　found　it　difficult　to　resign　an
interest　in　Madame　de　la　Chanterie；　but　Godefroid　showed；　without
intending　it；　a　discretion　which　was　appreciated　by　these　persons；　in
whom　the　divine　Spirit　had　developed　a　marvellous　power　of　the
faculties；as；　indeed；　it　often　does　among　recluses。　The
concentration　of　the　moral　forces；　no　matter　under　what　system　it　may
be　effected；　increases　the　compass　of　them　tenfold。

〃Our　friend　is　not　yet　converted；〃　said　the　good　Abbe　de　Veze；　〃but　he
is　seeking　to　be。〃

An　unforeseen　circumstance　brought　about　the　revelation　of　Madame　de
la　Chanterie's　history　to　Godefroid；　and　so　fully　was　this　made　to　him
that　the　overpowering　interest　she　excited　in　his　soul　was　completely
satisfied。

The　public　mind　was　at　that　time　much　occupied　by　one　of　those
horrible　criminal　trials　which　mark　the　annals　of　our　police…courts。
This　trial　had　gathered　its　chief　interest　from　the　character　of　the
criminals　themselves；　whose　audacity；　superior　intelligence　in　evil；
and　cynical　replies；　had　horrified　the　community。　It　is　a　matter
worthy　of　remark　that　no　newspaper　ever　found　its　way　into　the　hotel
de　la　Chanterie；　and　Godefroid　only　heard　of　the　rejection　of　the
criminals'　appeal　from　his　master　in　book…keeping；　for　the　trial
itself　had　taken　place　some　time　before　he　came　to　live　in　his　new
abode。

〃Do　you　ever　encounter；〃　he　said　to　his　new　friends；　〃such　atrocious
villains　as　those　men？　and　if　you　do　encounter　them；　how　do　you　manage
them？〃

〃In　the　first　place；〃　said　Monsieur　Nicolas；　〃there　are　no　atrocious
villains。　There　are　diseased　natures；　to　be　cared　for　in　asylums；　but
outside　of　those　rare　medical　cases；　we　find　only　persons　who　are
without　religion；　or　who　reason　ill；　and　the　mission　of　charity　is　to
teach　them　the　right　use　of　reason；　to　encourage　the　weak；　and　guide
aright　those　who　go　astray。〃

〃And；〃　said　the　Abbe　de　Veze；　〃all　is　possible　to　such　teachers；　for
God　is　with　them。〃

〃If　they　were　to　send　you　those　criminals；　you　could　do　nothing　with
them；　could　you？〃　asked　Godefroid。

〃The　time　would　be　too　short；〃　remarked　Monsieur　Alain。

〃In　general；〃　said　Monsieur　Nicolas；　〃persons　turn　over　to　religion
souls　which　have　reached　the　last　stages　of　evil；　and　leave　it　no　time
to　do　its　work。　The　criminals　of　whom　you　speak　were　men　of　remarkable
vigor；　could　they　have　been　within　our　hands　in　time　they　might　have
become　distinguished　men；　but　as　soon　as　they　committed　a　murder；　it
was　no　longer　possible　to　interfere；　they　then　belonged　to　human
justice。〃

〃That　must　mean；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃that　you　are　against　the　penalty　of
death？〃

Monsieur　Nicolas　rose　hastily　and　left　the　room。

〃Do　not　ever　mention　the　penalty　of　death　again　before　Monsieur
Nicolas；〃　said　Monsieur　Alain。　〃He　recognized　in　a　criminal　at　whose
execution　he　was　officially　present　his　natural　son。〃

〃And　the　son　was　innocent！〃　added　Monsieur　Joseph。

Madame　de　la　Chanterie；　who　had　been　absent　for　a　while；　returned　to
the　salon　at　this　moment。

〃But　you　must　admit；〃　said　Godefroid；　addressing　Monsieur　Joseph；
〃that　society　cannot　exist　without　the　death　penalty；　and　that　those
persons　who　to…morrow　morning　will　have　their　heads　cut〃

Godefroid　felt　his　mouth　suddenly　closed　by　a　vigorous　hand；　and　he
saw　the　abbe　leading　away　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　in　an　almost　fainting
condition。

〃What　have　you　done？〃　Monsieur　Joseph　said　to　him。　〃Take　him　away；
Alain！〃　he　added；　removing　the　hand　with　which　he　had　gagged
Godefroid。　Then　he　followed　the　Abbe　de　Veze　into　Madame　de　la
Chanterie's　room。

〃Come！〃　said　Monsieur　Alain　to　Godefroid；　〃you　have　made　it　essential
that　I　should　tell　you　the　secrets　of　Madame's　life。〃

They　were　presently　sitting　in　the　old　man's　room。

〃Well？〃　said　Godefroid；　whose　face　showed　plainly　his　regret　for
having　been　the　cause　of　something　which；　in　that　peaceful　home；　might
be　called　a　catastrophe。

〃I　am　waiting　till　Manon　comes　to　reassure　us；〃　replied　the　goodman；
listening　to　the　steps　of　the　maid　upon　the　staircase。

〃Madame　is　better；〃　said　Manon。　〃Monsieur　l'abbe　has　deceived　her　as
to　what　was　said。〃　And　she　looked　at　Godefroid　angrily。

〃Good　God！〃　cried　the　poor　fellow；　in　distress；　the　tears　coming　into
his　eyes。

〃Come；　sit　down；〃　said　Monsieur　Alain；　sitting　down　himself。　Then　he
made　a　pause　as　if　to　gather　up　his　ideas。　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　went　on；
〃if　I　have　the　talent　to　worthily　relate　a　life　so　cruelly　tried。　You
must　excuse　me　if　the　words　of　so　poor　a　speaker　as　I　are　beneath　the
level　of　its　actions　and　catastrophes。　Remember