the brotherhood of consolation-第10节
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soul and mind。〃
These words made Madame de la Chanterie so happy that a faint color
stole upon her cheeks。 She took Godefroid's hand and pressed it； then
she said； with strange emotion； 〃It is well。〃
That evening； after dinner； visitors came in： a vicar…general of the
diocese of Paris； two canons； two former mayors of Paris； and one of
the ladies who distributed the charities of Notre…Dame。 No cards were
played； but the conversation was gay； without being vapid。
A visit which surprised Godefroid greatly was that of the Comtesse de
Cinq…Cygne； one of the highest personages in aristocratic society；
whose salon was inaccessible to the bourgeoisie and to parvenus。 The
presence of this great lady in Madame de la Chanterie's salon was
sufficiently surprising； but the manner in which the two women met and
treated each other seemed to Godefroid inexplicable； for it showed the
closest intimacy and a constant intercourse which gave Madame de la
Chanterie an added value in his eyes。 Madame de Cinq…Cygne was
gracious and affectionate in manner to the four friends of her friend；
and showed the utmost respect to Monsieur Nicolas。
We may see here how social vanities still governed Godefroid； for up
to this visit of Madame de Cinq…Cygne he was still undecided； but he
now resolved to give himself up； with or without conviction； to
whatever Madame de la Chanterie and her friends might exact of him； in
order to get affiliated with their order and initiated into their
secrets； assuring himself that in that way he should find a career。
The next day he went to a book…keeper whom Madame de la Chanterie
recommended； and arranged with him the hours at which they should work
together。 His whole time was now employed。 The Abbe de Veze instructed
him in the mornings； he was two hours a day with the book…keeper； and
he spent the rest of his time between breakfast and dinner in doing
imaginary commercial accounts which his master required him to write
at home。
Some time passed thus； during which Godefroid felt the charm of a life
in which each hour has its own employment。 The recurrence of a settled
work at settled moments； regularity of action； is the secret of many a
happy life； and it proves how deeply the founders of religious orders
had meditated on the nature of man。 Godefroid； who had made up his
mind to listen to the Abbe de Veze； began to have serious thoughts of
a future life； and to find how little he knew of the real gravity of
religious questions。
Moreover； from day to day Madame de la Chanterie； with whom he always
remained for an hour after the second breakfast； allowed him to
discover the treasures that were in her； he knew then that he never
could have imagined a loving…kindness so broad and so complete。 A
woman of Madame de la Chanterie's apparent age no longer has the
pettiness of younger women。 She is a friend who offers you all
feminine refinements； who displays the graces； the choice attractions
which nature inspires in a woman for man； she gives them； and no
longer sells them。 Such a woman is either detestable or perfect； for
her gifts are either not of the flesh or they are worthless。 Madame de
la Chanterie was perfect。 She seemed never to have had a youth； her
glance never told of a past。 Godefroid's curiosity was far from being
appeased by a closer and more intimate knowledge of this sublime
nature； the discoveries of each succeeding day only redoubled his
desire to learn the anterior life of a woman whom he now thought a
saint。 Had she ever loved？ Had she been a wife；a mother？ Nothing
about her was characteristic of an old maid； she displayed all the
graces of a well…born woman； and an observer would perceive in her
robust health； in the extraordinary phenomena of her physical
preservation； a divine life； and a species of ignorance of the earthly
existence。
Except the gay and cheery goodman Alain； all these persons had
suffered； but Monsieur Nicolas himself seemed to give the palm of
martyrdom to Madame de la Chanterie。 Nevertheless； the memory of her
sorrows was so restrained by religious resignation； by her secret
avocations； that she seemed to have been always happy。
〃You are the life of your friends；〃 Godefroid said to her one day；
〃you are the tie that unites them；the house…mother； as it were； of
some great work； and； as we are all mortal； I ask myself sometimes
what your association would become without you。〃
〃That is what frightens the others； but Providence； to whom we owe our
new book…keeper；〃 she said； smiling； 〃will provide。 Besides； I am on
the look…out。〃
〃Will your new book…keeper soon be allowed to work at your business？〃
asked Godefroid。
〃That depends on himself；〃 she answered； smiling。 〃He must be
sincerely religious； truly pious； without the least self…interest； not
concerned about the riches of our house； able to rise above all petty
social considerations on the two wings which God has given us。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃Singleness of mind and purity；〃 replied Madame de la Chanterie。 〃Your
ignorance shows that you have neglected the reading of our book。〃 she
added； laughing at the innocent trick she had played to know if
Godefroid had read the 〃Imitation of Jesus Christ。〃 〃And； lastly；〃 she
went on； 〃fill your soul with Saint Paul's epistle upon Charity。 When
that is done；〃 she added； with a sublime look； 〃it will not be you who
belong to us； we shall belong to you； and you will be able to count up
greater riches than the sovereigns of this world possess； you will
enjoy as we enjoy； yes； let me tell you （if you remember the 'Arabian
Nights'） that the treasures of Aladdin are nothing to those we
possess。 And so for the last year we have not sufficed for our
affairs； and we needed； as you see； a book…keeper。〃
While speaking； she studied Godefroid's face； he； on his part； did not
know how to take this extraordinary confidence。 But as the scene in
the counting…room at Mongenod's came often to his mind； he hovered
between doubt and belief。
〃Ah； you will be very happy！〃 she said。
Godefroid was so consumed with curiosity that from this moment he
determined to break through the reserve of one of the four friends and
question him。 Now； the one to whom he felt the most drawn； and who
seemed naturally to excite the sympathies of all classes； was the
kind； gay； simple Monsieur Alain。 By what strange path could
Providence have led a being so guileless into this monastery without a
lock； where recluses of both sexes lived beneath a rule in the midst
of Paris； in absolute freedom； as though they were guarded by the
sternest of superiors？ What drama； what event； had made him leave his
own road in life； and take this path among the sorrows of the great
city？
Godefroid resolved to ask。
VII
MONSIEUR ALAIN TELLS HIS SECRETS
One evening Godefroid determined to pay a visit to his neighbor on the
floor above him； with the intention of satisfying a curiosity more
excited by the apparent impossibility of a catastrophe in such an
existence than it would have been under the expectation of discovering
some terrible episode in the life of a corsair。
At the words 〃Come in！〃 given in answer to two raps struck discreetly
on the door； Godefroid turned the key which was in the lock and found
Monsieur Alain sitting by the fire reading； before he went to bed； his
accustomed chapter in the 〃Imitation of Jesus Christ；〃 by the light of
two wax…candles； each protected by a moveable green shade； such as
whist…players use。
The goodman wore trousers /a pied/ and his gray camlet dressing…gown。
His feet were at a level with the fire； resting on a cushion done in
worsted…work； as were his slippers； by Madame de la Chanterie。 The
fine head of the old man； without other covering than its crown of
white hair； almost like that of a monk； stood out in clear relief
against the brown background of an enormous armchair。
Monsieur Alain gently laid his book； which was much worn at the
corners； on a little table with twisted legs； and signed to the young
man to take another chair； removing as he did so a pair of spectacles
which were hanging on the end of his nose。
〃Are you ill； that you have left your room at this hour？〃 he asked。
〃Dear Monsieur Alain；〃 said Godefroid； frankly； 〃I am tortured with a
curiosity which one word from you will make very harmless or very
indiscreet； and that explains clearly enough the spirit in which I
shall ask my question。〃
〃Oh！ oh！ and what is your question？〃 said the good soul； looking at
the young man with an eye that was half mischievous。
〃What was it that brought you here to lead the life that you live
here？ For； surely； to accept the doctrines of such total renunciation
of all personal interests； a man must have been disgusted with the
world； or else have injured others。〃
〃Eh！ my dear lad；〃 replied the old man； letting a smile flicker on his
large lips； which gave to his rosy mouth the kindliest expression that
the genius of a painter ever imagined； 〃can we not be moved to the
deepest pity by the spectacle of human wretchedness which Paris holds
within her walls？ Did Saint Vincent de Paul need the spur of remorse
or wounded vanity to make him de
