seeing； too； how rigorously the same principle was applied to all the
details of the house； Godefroid understood the value of the reproach
so courteously made to him。
〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃the persons whom you obliged this morning are
scoundrels； I overheard； without intending it； what they said to each
other when they left the house； it was full of the basest
ingratitude。〃
〃They were the two locksmiths of the rue Mouffetard；〃 said Madame de
la Chanterie to Monsieur Nicolas； 〃that is your affair。〃
〃The fish gets away more than once before it is caught；〃 said Monsieur
Alain； laughing。
The perfect indifference of Madame de la Chanterie on hearing of the
immediate ingratitude of persons to whom she had； no doubt； given
money； surprised Godefroid； who became thoughtful。
The dinner was enlivened by Monsieur Alain and Monsieur Joseph； but
Monsieur Nicolas remained quiet； sad； and cold； he bore on his
features the ineffaceable imprint of some bitter grief； some eternal
sorrow。 Madame de la Chanterie paid equal attentions to all。 Godefroid
felt himself observed by these persons； whose prudence equalled their
piety； his vanity led him to imitate their reserve； and he measured
his words。
This first day was much more interesting than those which succeeded
it。 Godefroid； who found himself set aside from all the serious
conferences； was obliged； during several hours in mornings and
evenings when he was left wholly to himself； to have recourse to the
〃Imitation of Jesus Christ；〃 and he ended by studying that book as a
man studies a book when he has but one； or is a prisoner。 A book is
then like a woman with whom we live in solitude； we must either hate
or adore that woman； and； in like manner； we must either enter into
the soul of the author or not read ten lines of his book。
Now； it is impossible not to be impressed by the 〃Imitation of Jesus
Christ；〃 which is to dogma what action is to thought。 Catholicism
vibrates in it； pulses； breathes； and lives； body to body； with human
life。 The book is a sure friend。 It speaks to all passions； all
difficulties； even worldly ones； it solves all problems； it is more
eloquent than any preacher； for its voice is your own； it is the voice
within your soul； you hear it with your spirit。 It is； in short； the
Gospel translated； adapted to all ages； the summit and crest of all
human situations。 It is extraordinary that the Church has never
canonized John Gersen； for the Divine Spirit evidently inspired his
pen。
For Godefroid； the hotel de la Chanterie now held a woman and a book；
day by day he loved the woman more； he discovered flowers buried
beneath the snows of winter in her heart； he had glimpses of the joys
of a sacred friendship which religion permits； on which the angels
smile； a friendship which here united these five persons and against
which no evil could prevail。
This is a sentiment higher than all others； a love of soul to soul；
resembling those rarest flowers born on the highest peaks of earth； a
love of which a few examples are offered to humanity from age to age；
by which lovers are sometimes bound together in one being； and which
explains those faithful attachments which are otherwise inexplicable
by the laws of the world。 It is a bond without disappointment； without
misunderstanding； without vanity； without strife； without even
contradictions； so completely are the moral natures blended into one。
This sentiment； vast； infinite； born of Catholic charity； Godefroid
foresaw with all its joys。 At times he could not believe the spectacle
before his eyes； and he sought for reasons to explain the sublime
friendship of these five persons； wondering in his heart to find true
Catholics； true Christians of the early Church； in the Paris of 1836。
VI
THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE OF CHANTERIE AND COMPANY
Within a week after his arrival Godefroid had seen such a concourse of
persons； he had overheard fragments of conversation relating to so
many serious topics； that he began to perceive an enormous activity in
the lives of the five inmates of the house。 He noticed that none of
them slept more than five hours at the most。
They had all made； in some sort； a first day； before the second
breakfast。 During that time strangers came and went； bringing or
carrying away money； sometimes in considerable sums。 A messenger from
the Mongenod counting…room often came；always very early in the
morning； so that his errand might not interfere with the business of
the bank。
One evening Monsieur Mongenod came himself； and Godefroid noticed that
he showed to Monsieur Alain a certain filial familiarity added to the
profound respect which he testified to the three other lodgers of
Madame de la Chanterie。
On that evening the banker merely put a few matter…of…fact questions
to Godefroid： 〃Was he comfortable？ Did he intend to stay？〃 etc。；at
the same time advising him to persevere in his plan。
〃I need only one thing to make me contented；〃 said Godefroid。
〃What is that？〃 asked the banker。
〃An occupation。〃
〃An occupation！〃 remarked the Abbe de Veze。 〃Then you have changed
your mind？ I thought you came to our cloister for rest。〃
〃Rest； without the prayers that enlivened monasteries； without the
meditation which peopled the Thebaids； becomes a disease；〃 said
Monsieur Joseph； sententiously。
〃Learn book…keeping；〃 said Monsieur Mongenod； with a smile； 〃you might
become in a few months very useful to my friends here。〃
〃Oh！ with pleasure；〃 cried Godefroid。
The next day was Sunday； Madame de la Chanterie requested him to give
her his arm to high mass。
〃It is；〃 she said； 〃the only coercion I shall put upon you。 Several
times during the past week I have wished to speak to you of religion；
but it did not seem to me that the time had come。 You would find
plenty of occupation if you shared our beliefs； for then you would
share our labors as well。〃
During mass Godefroid noticed the fervor of Messieurs Nicolas； Joseph；
and Alain； and as during the last few days he had also noticed their
superiority and intelligence； and the vast extent of their knowledge；
he concluded； when he saw how they humbled themselves； that the
Catholic religion had secrets which had hitherto escaped him。
〃After all；〃 he said to himself； 〃it is the religion of Bossuet；
Pascal； Racine； Saint…Louis； Louis XIV。； Raffaelle； Michel…Angelo；
Ximenes； Bayard； du Guesclin； and how could I； weakling that I am；
compare myself to those intellects； those statesmen； those poets；
those heroes？〃
If there were not some real instruction in these minor details it
would be imprudent to dwell upon them in these days； but they are
indispensable to the interests of this history； in which the present
public will be none too ready to believe； and which presents at the
outset a fact that is almost ridiculous；namely； the empire which a
woman of sixty obtained over a young man disappointed with the world。
〃You did not pray at all；〃 said Madame de la Chanterie to Godefroid as
they left the portal of Notre…Dame； 〃not for any one；not even for
the soul of your mother。〃
Godefroid colored and said nothing。
〃Will you do me the favor；〃 continued Madame de la Chanterie； 〃to go
to your room and not come into the salon for an hour？ You can
meditate； if you love me； on the first chapter in the third book of
the 'Imitation'the one entitled： 'Of inward communing。'〃
Godefroid bowed stiffly and went to his room。
〃The devil take them！〃 he exclaimed to himself； giving way to
downright anger。 〃What do they want with me here？ What is all this
traffic they are carrying on？ Pooh！ all women； even pious ones； are up
to the same tricks。 If Madame〃 （giving her the name by which her
lodgers spoke of her） 〃wants me out of the way it is probably because
they are plotting something against me。〃
With that thought in his mind he tried to look from his window into
that of the salon； but the situation of the rooms did not allow it。 He
went down one flight； and then returned；reflecting that according to
the rigid principles of the house he should be dismissed if discovered
spying。 To lose the respect of those five persons seemed to him as
serious as public dishonor。
He waited three quarters of an hour； then he resolved to surprise
Madame de la Chanterie and come upon her suddenly before she expected
him。 He invented a lie to excuse himself； saying that his watch was
wrong； for which purpose he set it on twenty minutes。 Then he went
downstairs； making no noise； reached the door of the salon； and opened
it abruptly。
He saw a man； still young； but already celebrated； a poet； whom he had
frequently met in society； Victor de Vernisset； on his knees before
Madame de la Chanterie and kissing the hem of her dress。 If the sky
had fallen； and shivered to atoms like glass； as the ancients thought
it was； Godefroid could not have been more astonished。 Shocking
thoughts came into his mind； and then a reaction more terrible still
when； before the sarcasm he was about to utter had left his lips； he
saw Monsieur Alain in a corner of the room counting out bank…notes。
In an instant Vernisset was on his feet； and the worthy Alain looked
thunderstruck。 Madame de la Chanterie； on her part； gave Godefroid a
look which petrified him； for the twofold expression on the face of
the visitor had not escaped him。
〃Monsieur is one of us；〃 she said to the young poet； with a sign
towards Godefroid。
〃Then you are a happy man； my dear fellow；〃 said Vernisset； 〃you are
saved！ But； madame；〃 he added； turning to Madame de la Chanterie； 〃if
all Paris had seen me； I should rejoice in it。 Nothing can ever mark
my gratitude to you。 I am yours forever； I belong to you utterly。
Command me as you will and I obey。 I owe you my life； and it is
yours。〃
〃Well； well； young man！〃 said the kind Alain； 〃then be wise； be
virtuous；only； /work/； but do not attack religion in your books。
Moreover； remember that you owe a debt。〃
And he handed him an envelope thick with the bank…notes he had counted
out。 The tears were in Victor de Vernisset's eyes； he kissed Madame de
la Chanterie's hand respectfully； and went away； after shaking hands
with Monsieur Alain and Godef