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treasure in heaven which avarice lays up on earth。 The Abbe Chaperon
argued with his servant over expenses even more sharply than Gobseck
with hisif indeed that famous Jew kept a servant at all。 The good
priest often sold the buckles off his shoes and his breeches to give
their value to some poor person who appealed to him at a moment when
he had not a penny。 When he was seen coming out of church with the
straps of his breeches tied into the button…holes； devout women would
redeem the buckles from the clock…maker and jeweler of the town and
return them to their pastor with a lecture。 He never bought himself
any clothes or linen； and wore his garments till they scarcely held
together。 His linen； thick with darns； rubbed his skin like a hair
shirt。 Madame de Portenduere； and other good souls； had an agreement
with his housekeeper to replace the old clothes with new ones after he
went to sleep； and the abbe did not always find out the difference。 He
ate his food off pewter with iron forks and spoons。 When he received
his assistants and sub…curates on days of high solemnity （an expense
obligatory on the heads of parishes） he borrowed linen and silver from
his friend the atheist。
〃My silver is his salvation；〃 the doctor would say。
These noble deeds； always accompanied by spiritual encouragement； were
done with a beautiful naivete。 Such a life was all the more
meritorious because the abbe was possessed of an erudition that was
vast and varied； and of great and precious faculties。 Delicacy and
grace； the inseparable accompaniments of simplicity； lent charm to an
elocution that was worthy of a prelate。 His manners； his character；
and his habits gave to his intercourse with others the most exquisite
savor of all that is most spiritual； most sincere in the human mind。 A
lover of gayety； he was never priest in a salon。 Until Doctor
Minoret's arrival； the good man kept his light under a bushel without
regret。 Owning a rather fine library and an income of two thousand
francs when he came to Nemours； he now possessed； in 1829； nothing at
all； except his stipend as parish priest； nearly the whole of which he
gave away during the year。 The giver of excellent counsel in delicate
matters or in great misfortunes； many persons who never went to church
to obtain consolation went to the parsonage to get advice。 One little
anecdote will suffice to complete his portrait。 Sometimes the
peasants；rarely； it is true； but occasionally；unprincipled men；
would tell him they were sued for debt； or would get themselves
threatened fictitiously to stimulate the abbe's benevolence。 They
would even deceive their wives； who； believing their chattels were
threatened with an execution and their cows seized； deceived in their
turn the poor priest with their innocent tears。 He would then manage
with great difficulty to provide the seven or eight hundred francs
demanded of himwith which the peasant bought himself a morsel of
land。 When pious persons and vestrymen denounced the fraud； begging
the abbe to consult them in future before lending himself to such
cupidity； he would say：
〃But suppose they had done something wrong to obtain their bit of
land？ Isn't it doing good when we prevent evil？〃
Some persons may wish for a sketch of this figure； remarkable for the
fact that science and literature had filled the heart and passed
through the strong head without corrupting either。 At sixty years of
age the abbe's hair was white as snow； so keenly did he feel the
sorrows of others； and so heavily had the events of the Revolution
weighed upon him。 Twice incarcerated for refusing to take the oath he
had twice； as he used to say； uttered in 〃In manus。〃 He was of medium
height； neither stout nor thin。 His face； much wrinkled and hollowed
and quite colorless； attracted immediate attention by the absolute
tranquillity expressed in its shape； and by the purity of its outline；
which seemed to be edged with light。 The face of a chaste man has an
unspeakable radiance。 Brown eyes with lively pupils brightened the
irregular features； which were surmounted by a broad forehead。 His
glance wielded a power which came of a gentleness that was not devoid
of strength。 The arches of his brow formed caverns shaded by huge gray
eyebrows which alarmed no one。 As most of his teeth were gone his
mouth had lost its shape and his cheeks had fallen in； but this
physical destruction was not without charm； even the wrinkles； full of
pleasantness； seemed to smile on others。 Without being gouty his feet
were tender； and he walked with so much difficulty that he wore shoes
made of calf's skin all the year round。 He thought the fashion of
trousers unsuitable for priests； and he always appeared in stockings
of coarse black yarn； knit by his housekeeper； and cloth breeches。 He
never went out in his cassock； but wore a brown overcoat； and still
retained the three…cornered hat he had worn so courageously in times
of danger。 This noble and beautiful old man； whose face was glorified
by the serenity of a soul above reproach； will be found to have so
great an influence upon the men and things of this history； that it
was proper to show the sources of his authority and power。
Minoret took three newspapers；one liberal； one ministerial； one
ultra；a few periodicals； and certain scientific journals； the
accumulation of which swelled his library。 The newspapers；
encyclopaedias； and books were an attraction to a retired captain of
the Royal…Swedish regiment； named Monsieur de Jordy； a Voltairean
nobleman and an old bachelor； who lived on sixteen hundred francs of
pension and annuity combined。 Having read the gazettes for several
days； by favor of the abbe； Monsieur de Jordy thought it proper to
call and thank the doctor in person。 At this first visit the old
captain； formerly a professor at the Military Academy； won the
doctor's heart； who returned the call with alacrity。 Monsieur de
Jordy； a spare little man much troubled by his blood； though his face
was very pale； attracted attention by the resemblance of his handsome
brow to that of Charles XII。； above it he kept his hair cropped short；
like that of the soldier…king。 His blue eyes seemed to say that 〃Love
had passed that way；〃 so mournful were they； revealing memories about
which he kept such utter silence that his old friends never detected
even an allusion to his past life； nor a single exclamation drawn
forth by similarity of circumstances。 He hid the painful mystery of
his past beneath a philosophic gayety； but when he thought himself
alone his motions； stiffened by a slowness which was more a matter of
choice than the result of old age； betrayed the constant presence of
distressful thoughts。 The Abbe Chaperon called him a Christian
ignorant of his Christianity。 Dressed always in blue cloth； his rather
rigid demeanor and his clothes bespoke the old habits of military
discipline。 His sweet and harmonious voice stirred the soul。 His
beautiful hands and the general cut of his figure； recalling that of
the Comte d'Artois； showed how charming he must have been in his
youth； and made the mystery of his life still more mysterious。 An
observer asked involuntarily what misfortune had blighted such beauty；
courage； grace； accomplishment； and all the precious qualities of the
heart once united in his person。 Monsieur de Jordy shuddered if
Robespierre's name were uttered before him。 He took much snuff； but；
strange to say； he gave up the habit to please little Ursula； who at
first showed a dislike to him on that account。 As soon as he saw the
little girl the captain fastened his eyes upon her with a look that
was almost passionate。 He loved her play so extravagantly and took
such interest in all she did that the tie between himself and the
doctor grew closer every day； though the latter never dared to say to
him； 〃You； too； have you lost children？〃 There are beings； kind and
patient as old Jordy； who pass through life with a bitter thought in
their heart and a tender but sorrowful smile on their lips； carrying
with them to the grave the secret of their lives； letting no one guess
it；through pride； through disdain； possibly through revenge；
confiding in none but God； without other consolation than his。
Monsieur de Jordy； like the doctor； had come to die in Nemours； but he
knew no one except the abbe； who was always at the beck and call of
his parishioners； and Madame de Portenduere； who went to bed at nine
o'clock。 So； much against his will； he too had taken to going to bed
early； in spite of the thorns that beset his pillow。 It was therefore
a great piece of good fortune for him （as well as for the doctor） when
he encountered a man who had known the same world and spoken the same
language as himself； with whom he could exchange ideas； and who went
to bed late。 After Monsieur de Jordy； the Abbe Chaperon； and Minoret
had passed one evening together they found so much pleasure