show you what sort of men those Chouans were。 The crowd which
assembled to hear the trial was immense； it even filled the corridors
and the square before the court…house。 One morning； after the opening
of the court…room and before the arrival of the judges； Pille…Miche； a
famous Chouan； sprang over the balustrade into the middle of the
crowd； elbowing right and left； 'charging like a wild boar；' as Bordin
told me； through the frightened people。 The guards and the gendarmes
dashed after him and caught him just as he reached the square； after
that the guards were doubled。 A picket of gendarmerie was stationed in
the square； for they feared there were Chouans on the ground ready to
rescue the prisoners。 As it was； three persons were crushed to death
on this occasion。 It was afterwards discovered that Contenson （neither
my friend Bordin nor I could ever bring ourselves to call him the
Baron des Tours…Minieres； nor Bryond which is the name of an old
family）；it was； I say； discovered that this wretch Contenson had
obtained sixty thousand francs of the stolen money from the
Chaussards； he gave ten thousand to the younger Chaussard； whom he
took with him into the detective police and innoculated with his
vices； his other accomplices got nothing from him。 Madame de la
Chanterie invested the money restored to her by the king in the public
Funds； and bought this house to please her uncle； Monsieur de
Boisfrelon； who gave her the money for the purpose； and died in the
rooms you now occupy。 This tranquil neighborhood is near the
archbishop's palace； where our dear abbe has duties with the cardinal。
That was one of the chief reasons why Madame agreed to her uncle's
wish。 Here； in this cloistral life； the fearful misfortunes which
overwhelmed her for twenty…six years have been brought to a close。 Now
you can understand the majesty； the grandeur of this victimaugust； I
venture to call her。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Godefroid； 〃the imprint of all the blows she has received
remains and gives her something； I can scarcely describe it； that is
grand and majestic。〃
〃Every wound； every fresh blow； has increased her patience； her
resignation；〃 continued Alain； 〃but if you knew her as we know her you
would see how keen is her sensibility； how active the inexhaustible
tenderness of her heart； and you would almost stand in awe of the
tears she had shed； and the fervent prayers she had made to God。 Ah！
it was necessary to have known； as she did； a brief period of
happiness to bear up as she has done under such misfortunes。 Here is a
tender heart； a gentle soul in a steel body hardened by privations； by
toil； by austerities。〃
〃Her life explains why hermits live so long；〃 said Godefroid。
〃There are days when I ask myself what is the meaning of a life like
hers？ Can it be that God reserves such trials； such cruel tests； for
those of his creatures who are to sit on the morrow of their death at
his right hand？〃 said the good Alain； quite unconscious that he was
artlessly expressing the whole doctrine of Swedenborg on the angels。
〃And you tell me；〃 said Godefroid； 〃that in prison Madame de la
Chanterie was put with〃
〃Madame was sublime in her prison；〃 said Alain。 〃For three whole years
she realized the story of the Vicar of Wakefield； and was able to
convert many of the worst women about her。 During her imprisonment she
observed the habits and customs of these women； and was seized with
that great pity for the sorrows of the people which has since filled
her soul and made her the angel of Parisian charity。 In that dreadful
Bicetre of Rouen； she conceived the plan to the realization of which
we are now devoted。 It was； she has often told us； a delightful dream；
an angelic inspiration in the midst of hell； though she never thought
she should realize it。 When； in 1819； peace and quietude seemed really
to return to Paris； her dream came back to her。 Madame la Duchesse
d'Angouleme； afterwards the dauphine； the Duchesse de Berry； the
archbishop； later the chancellor； and several pious persons
contributed liberally the first necessary sums。 These funds have been
increased by the addition of our own available property； from which we
take only enough for our actual needs。〃
Tears came into Godefroid's eyes。
〃We are the ministers of a Christian idea； we belong body and soul to
its work； the spirit of which； the founder of which； is the Baronne de
la Chanterie； whom you hear us so respectfully call 'Madame。'〃
〃Ah！ let me belong to you！〃 cried Godefroid； stretching out his hands
to the kind old man。
〃Now you understand why there are some subjects of conversation which
are never mentioned here； nor even alluded to。 You can now see the
obligations of delicacy that all who live in this house contract
towards one who seems to us a saint。 You comprehenddo you not？the
influence of a woman made sacred by such sorrows； who knows so many
things； to whom anguish has said its utmost word； who from each
adversity has drawn instruction； in whom all virtues have the double
strength of cruel trial and of constant practice； whose soul is
spotless and without reproach； whose motherhood knew only grief； whose
married love knew only bitterness； on whom life smiled for a brief
time only； but for whom heaven reserves a palm； the reward of
resignation and of loving…kindness under sorrow。 Ah！ does she not even
triumph over Job in never murmuring？ Can you wonder that her words are
so powerful； her old age so young； her soul so communicative； her
glance so convincing？ She has obtained extraordinary powers in dealing
with sufferers； for she has suffered all things。〃
〃She is the living image of Charity！〃 cried Godefroid； fervently。 〃Can
I ever be one of you？〃
〃You must first endure the tests； and above all BELIEVE！〃 said the old
man； gently。 〃So long as you have no faith； so long as you have not
absorbed into your heart and mind the divine meaning of Saint Paul's
epistle upon Charity； you cannot share our work。〃
SECOND EPISODE
THE INITIATE
XI
THE POLICE OF THE GOOD GOD
Like evil； good is contagious。 Therefore when Madame de la Chanterie's
lodger had lived in that old and silent house for some months after
the worthy Alain's last confidence； which gave him the deepest respect
for the religious lives of those among whom his was cast； he
experienced that well…being of the soul which comes of a regulated
existence； gentle customs； and harmony of nature in those who surround
us。 At the end of four months； during which time Godefroid heard
neither a loud voice nor an argument； he could not remember that he
had ever been； if not as happy； at least as tranquil and contented。 He
now judged soundly of the world； seeing it from afar。 At last； the
desire he had felt for months to be a sharer in the work of these
mysterious persons became a passion。 Without being great philosophers
we can all understand the force which passions acquire in solitude。
Thus it happened that one daya day made solemn by the power of the
spirit within himGodefroid again went up to see the good old Alain；
him whom Madame de la Chanterie called her 〃lamb；〃 the member of the
community who seemed to Godefroid the least imposing； the most
approachable member of the fraternity； intending to obtain from him
some definite light on the conditions of the sacred work to which
these brothers of God were dedicated。 The allusions made to a period
of trial seemed to imply an initiation； which he was now desirous of
receiving。 His curiosity had not been satisfied by what the venerable
old man had already told him as to the causes which led to the work of
Madame de la Chanterie； he wanted to know more。
For the third time Godefroid entered Monsieur Alain's room； just as
the old man was beginning his evening reading of the 〃Imitation of
Jesus Christ。〃 This time the kindly soul did not restrain a smile when
he saw the young man； and he said at once； without allowing Godefroid
to speak：
〃Why do you come to me； my dear boy； why not go to Madame？ I am the
most ignorant； the most imperfect； the least spiritual of our number。
For the last three days；〃 he added； with a shrewd little glance；
〃Madame and my other friends have read your heart。〃
〃What have they read there？〃 asked Godefroid。
〃Ah！〃 replied the goodman； without evasion； 〃they see in you a rather
artless desire to belong to our little flock。 But this sentiment is
not yet an ardent vocation。 Yes；〃 he continued； replying to a gesture
of Godefroid's； 〃you have more curiosity than fervor。 You are not yet
so detached from your old ideas that you do not look forward to
something adventurous； romantic； as they say； in the incidents of our
life。〃
Godefroid could not keep himself from blushing。
〃You see a likeness between our occupations and those of the caliphs
of the 'Arabian Nights；' and you are thinking about the satisfaction
you will have in playing the part of the good genii in the tales of
benevolence you are inventing。 Ah； my dear boy！ that shame…faced laugh
of yours proves to me that we were quite right in that conjecture。 How
do you expect to conceal any feeling from persons whose business it is
to divine the most hidden motion of souls； the tricks of poverty； the
calculations of indigence；honest spies； the police of the good God；
old judges； whose code contains nothing but absolutions； doctors of
suffering； whose only remedy is oftentimes the wise application of
money？ But； you see； my child； we don't wish to quarrel with the
motives which bring us a neophyte； provided he will really stay and
become a brother of the order。 We shall judge you by your work。 There
are two kinds of curiosity；that of good and that of evil； just at
this moment you have that of good。 If you should work in our vineyard；
the juice of our grapes will make you perpetually thirsty for the
divine fruit。 The initiation is； as in that of all natural knowledge；
easy in appearance； difficult in reality。 Benevolence is like poesy；
nothing is easier than to catch the appearance of it。 But here； as in
Parnassus； nothing contents us but perfection。 To become one to us；
you must acquire a great knowledge of life。 And what a life；good
God！ Parisian life