按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
behind a curtain； were the utensils of the toilet； which still betrayed the elegant habits of the man of the world： there were two doors； one near the chimney； opening into the oratory； the other near the bookcase； opening into the dining…room。 The bookcase was a large cupboard with glass doors filled with books； the chimney was of wood painted to represent marble； and habitually without fire。 In the chimney stood a pair of firedogs of iron； ornamented above with two garlanded vases； and flutings which had formerly been silvered with silver leaf； which was a sort of episcopal luxury； above the chimney…piece hung a crucifix of copper； with the silver worn off； fixed on a background of threadbare velvet in a wooden frame from which the gilding had fallen； near the glass door a large table with an inkstand； loaded with a confusion of papers and with huge volumes； before the table an arm…chair of straw； in front of the bed a prie…Dieu； borrowed from the oratory。
Two portraits in oval frames were fastened to the wall on each side of the bed。
Small gilt inscriptions on the plain surface of the cloth at the side of these figures indicated that the portraits represented； one the Abbe of Chaliot； bishop of Saint Claude； the other； the Abbe Tourteau； vicar…general of Agde； abbe of Grand…Champ； order of Citeaux； diocese of Chartres。
When the Bishop succeeded to this apartment； after the hospital patients； he had found these portraits there； and had left them。
They were priests； and probably donorstwo reasons for respecting them。
All that he knew about these two persons was； that they had been appointed by the king； the one to his bishopric； the other to his benefice； on the same day； the 27th of April； 1785。
Madame Magloire having taken the pictures down to dust； the Bishop had discovered these particulars written in whitish ink on a little square of paper； yellowed by time； and attached to the back of the portrait of the Abbe of Grand…Champ with four wafers。
At his window he had an antique curtain of a coarse woollen stuff； which finally became so old； that； in order to avoid the expense of a new one； Madame Magloire was forced to take a large seam in the very middle of it。
This seam took the form of a cross。 The Bishop often called attention to it：
〃How delightful that is！〃 he said。
All the rooms in the house； without exception； those on the ground floor as well as those on the first floor； were white…washed； which is a fashion in barracks and hospitals。
However； in their latter years； Madame Magloire discovered beneath the paper which had been washed over； paintings； ornamenting the apartment of Mademoiselle Baptistine； as we shall see further on。 Before being a hospital； this house had been the ancient parliament house of the Bourgeois。
Hence this decoration。 The chambers were paved in red bricks； which were washed every week； with straw mats in front of all the beds。
Altogether； this dwelling； which was attended to by the two women； was exquisitely clean from top to bottom。
This was the sole luxury which the Bishop permitted。 He said； 〃That takes nothing from the poor。〃
It must be confessed； however； that he still retained from his former possessions six silver knives and forks and a soup…ladle； which Madame Magloire contemplated every day with delight； as they glistened splendidly upon the coarse linen cloth。 And since we are now painting the Bishop of D as he was in reality； we must add that he had said more than once； 〃I find it difficult to renounce eating from silver dishes。〃
To this silverware must be added two large candlesticks of massive silver； which he had inherited from a great…aunt。 These candlesticks held two wax candles； and usually figured on the Bishop's chimney…piece。 When he had any one to dinner； Madame Magloire lighted the two candles and set the candlesticks on the table。
In the Bishop's own chamber； at the head of his bed； there was a small cupboard； in which Madame Magloire locked up the six silver knives and forks and the big spoon every night。 But it is necessary to add； that the key was never removed。
The garden； which had been rather spoiled by the ugly buildings which we have mentioned； was posed of four alleys in cross…form； radiating from a tank。
Another walk made the circuit of the garden； and skirted the white wall which enclosed it。
These alleys left behind them four square plots rimmed with box。
In three of these； Madame Magloire cultivated vegetables； in the fourth； the Bishop had planted some flowers； here and there stood a few fruit…trees。 Madame Magloire had once remarked； with a sort of gentle malice： 〃Monseigneur； you who turn everything to account； have； nevertheless； one useless plot。
It would be better to grow salads there than bouquets。〃 〃Madame Magloire；〃 retorted the Bishop； 〃you are mistaken。 The beautiful is as useful as the useful。〃
He added after a pause； 〃More so； perhaps。〃
This plot； consisting of three or four beds； occupied the Bishop almost as much as did his books。
He liked to pass an hour or two there； trimming； hoeing； and making holes here and there in the earth； into which he dropped seeds。
He was not as hostile to insects as a gardener could have wished to see him。
Moreover； he made no pretensions to botany； he ignored groups and consistency； he made not the slightest effort to decide between Tournefort and the natural method； he took part neither with the buds against the cotyledons； nor with Jussieu against Linnaeus。
He did not study plants； he loved flowers。 He respected learned men greatly； he respected the ignorant still more； and； without ever failing in these two respects； he watered his flower…beds every summer evening with a tin watering…pot painted green。
The house had not a single door which could be locked。
The door of the dining…room； which； as we have said； opened directly on the cathedral square； had formerly been ornamented with locks and bolts like the door of a prison。
The Bishop had had all this ironwork removed； and this door was never fastened； either by night or by day； with anything except the latch。
All that the first passerby had to do at any hour； was to give it a push。
At first； the two women had been very much tried by this door； which was never fastened； but Monsieur de D had said to them； 〃Have bolts put on your rooms； if that will please you。〃
They had ended by sharing his confidence； or by at least acting as though they shared it。
Madame Magloire alone had frights from time to time。
As for the Bishop； his thought can be found explained； or at least indicated； in the three lines which he wrote on the margin of a Bible； 〃This is the shade of difference：
the door of the physician should never be shut； the door of the priest should always be open。〃
On another book； entitled Philosophy of the Medical Science； he had written this other note：
〃Am not I a physician like them？ I also have my patients； and then； too； I have some whom I call my unfortunates。〃
Again he wrote：
〃Do not inquire the name of him who asks a shelter of you。
The very man who is embarrassed by his name is the one who needs shelter。〃
It chanced that a worthy cure； I know not whether it was the cure of Couloubroux or the cure of Pompierry； took it into his head to ask him one day； probably at the instigation of Madame Magloire； whether Monsieur was sure that he was not mitting an indiscretion； to a certain extent； in leaving his door unfastened day and night； at the mercy of any one who should choose to enter； and whether； in short； he did not fear lest some misfortune might occur in a house so little guarded。
The Bishop touched his shoulder； with gentle gravity； and said to him； 〃Nisi Dominus custodierit domum； in vanum vigilant qui custodiunt eam；〃 Unless the Lord guard the house； in vain do they watch who guard it。
Then he spoke of something else。
He was fond of saying； 〃There is a bravery of the priest as well as the bravery of a colonel of dragoons；only；〃 he added； 〃ours must be tranquil。〃
BOOK FIRSTA JUST MAN
CHAPTER VII
CRAVATTE
It is here that a fact falls naturally into place； which we must not omit； because it is one of the sort which show us best what sort of a man the Bishop of D was。
After the destruction of the band of Gaspard Bes； who had infested the gorges of Ollioules； one of his lieutenants； Cravatte； took refuge in the mountains。
He concealed himself for some time with his bandits； the remnant of Gaspard Bes's troop； in the county of Nice； then he made his way to Piedmont； and suddenly reappeared in France； in the vicinity of Barcelonette。
He was first seen at Jauziers； then at Tuiles。
He hid himself in the caverns of the Joug…de…l'Aigle； and thence he descended towards the hamlets and villages through the ravines of Ubaye and Ubayette。
He even pushed as far as Embrun； entered the cathedral one night； and despoiled the sacristy。
His highway robberies laid waste the country…side。 The gendarmes were set on his track； but in vain。 He always escaped； sometimes he resisted by main force。
He was a bold wretch。
In the midst of all this terror the Bishop arrived。 He was making his circuit to Chastelar。
The mayor came to meet him； and urged him to retrace his steps。
Cravatte was in possession of the mountains as far as Arche； and beyond； there was danger even with an escort； it merely exposed three or four unfortunate gendarmes to no purpose。
〃Therefore；〃 said the Bishop； 〃I intend to go without escort。〃
〃You do not really mean that； Monseigneur！〃 exclaimed the mayor。
〃I do mean it so thoroughly that I absolutely refuse any gendarmes； and shall set out in an hour。〃
〃Set out？〃
〃Set out。〃
〃Alone？〃
〃Alone。〃
〃Monseigneur； you will not do that！〃
〃There exists yonder in the mountains；〃 said the Bishop； a tiny munity no bigger than that； which I have not seen for three years。 They are my good friends； those gentle and honest shepherds。
They own one goat out of every thirty that they tend。
They make very pretty woollen cords of various colors； and they play the mountain airs on little flutes with six holes。
They need to be told of the good God now and then。
What would they say to a bishop who was afraid？ What would they say if I did not go？〃
〃But the brigands； Monseigneur？〃
〃Hold；〃 said the Bishop； 〃I must think of that。
You are right。 I may meet them。
They； too； need to be told of the good God。〃
〃But； Monseigneur； there is a band of them！
A flock of wolves！〃
〃Monsieur le maire； it may be that it is of this very flock of wolves that Jesus has constituted me the shepherd。
Who knows the ways of Providence？〃
〃They will rob you； Monseigneur。〃
〃I have nothing。〃
〃They will kill you。〃
〃An old goodman of a priest； who passes along mumbling his prayers？ Bah！
To what purpose？〃
〃Oh； mon Dieu！ what if you should meet them！〃
〃I should beg alms of them for my poor。〃
〃Do not go； Monseigneur。
In the name of Heaven！
You are risking your life！〃
〃Monsieur le maire；〃 said the Bishop； 〃is that really all？ I am not in the world to guard my own life； but to guard souls。〃
They had to allow him to do as he pleased。
He set out； acpanied only by a child who offered to serve as a guide。
His obstinacy was bruited about the country…side； and caused great consternation。
He would take neither his sister nor Madame Magloire。
He traversed the mountain on mule…back； encountered no one； and arrived safe and sound at the residence of his 〃good friends；〃 the shepherds。 He remained there for a fortnight； preaching； administering the sacrament； teaching； exhorting。
When the time of his departure approached； he resolved to chant a Te Deum pontifically。
He mentioned it to the cure。
But what was to be done？
There were no episcopal ornaments。 They could only place at his disposal a wretched village sacristy； with a few ancient chasubles of threadbare damask adorned with imitation lace。
〃Bah！〃 said the Bishop。
〃Let us announce our Te Deum f