We never dreamed of such good fortune! The son of a provincial1 bailiff, Jean Marin had come, as do so many others, to study law in the Quartier Latin. In the various beer-houses that he had frequented he had made friends with several talkative students who spouted2 politics as they drank their beer. He had a great admiration3 for them and followed them persistently4 from cafe to cafe, even paying for their drinks when he had the money.
He became a lawyer and pleaded causes, which he lost. However, one morning he read in the papers that one of his former comrades of the Quartier had just been appointed deputy.
He again became his faithful hound, the friend who does the drudgery5, the unpleasant tasks, for whom one sends when one has need of him and with whom one does not stand on ceremony. But it chanced through some parliamentary incident that the deputy became a minister. Six months later Jean Marin was appointed a state councillor.
He was so elated with pride at first that he lost his head. He would walk through the streets just to show himself off, as though one could tell by his appearance what position he occupied. He managed to say to the shopkeepers as soon as he entered a store, bringing it in somehow in the course of the most insignificant6 remarks and even to the news vendors7 and the cabmen:
“I, who am a state councillor—”
Then, in consequence of his position as well as for professional reasons and as in duty bound through being an influential8 and generous man, he felt an imperious need of patronizing others. He offered his support to every one on all occasions and with unbounded generosity9.
When he met any one he recognized on the boulevards he would advance to meet them with a charmed air, would take their hand, inquire after their health, and, without waiting for any questions, remark:
“You know I am state councillor, and I am entirely10 at your service. If I can be of any use to you, do not hesitate to call on me. In my position one has great influence.”
Then he would go into some cafe with the friend he had just met and ask for a pen and ink and a sheet of paper. “Just one, waiter; it is to write a letter of recommendation.”
And he wrote ten, twenty, fifty letters of recommendation a day. He wrote them to the Cafe Americain, to Bignon's, to Tortoni's, to the Maison Doree, to the Cafe Riche, to the Helder, to the Cafe Anglais, to the Napolitain, everywhere, everywhere. He wrote them to all the officials of the republican government, from the magistrates11 to the ministers. And he was happy, perfectly12 happy.
One morning as he was starting out to go to the council it began to rain. He hesitated about taking a cab, but decided13 not to do so and set out on foot.
The rain came down in torrents14, swamping the sidewalks and inundating15 the streets. M. Marin was obliged to take shelter in a doorway16. An old priest was standing17 there—an old priest with white hair. Before he became a councillor M. Marin did not like the clergy18. Now he treated them with consideration, ever since a cardinal19 had consulted him on an important matter. The rain continued to pour down in floods and obliged the two men to take shelter in the porter's lodge20 so as to avoid getting wet. M. Marin, who was always itching21 to talk so as to let people know who he was, remarked:
“This is horrible weather, Monsieur l'Abbe.”
The old priest bowed:
“Yes indeed, sir, it is very unpleasant when one comes to Paris for only a few days.”
“Ah! You come from the provinces?”
“Yes, monsieur. I am only passing through on my journey.”
“It certainly is very disagreeable to have rain during the few days one spends in the capital. We officials who stay here the year round, we think nothing of it.”
The priest did not reply. He was looking at the street where the rain seemed to be falling less heavily. And with a sudden resolve he raised his cassock just as women raise their skirts in stepping across water.
M. Marin, seeing him start away, exclaimed:
The good man stopped irresistibly23 and then said:
“But I am in a great hurry. I have an important engagement.”
M. Marin seemed quite worried.
“But you will be absolutely drenched. Might I ask in which direction you are going?”
The priest appeared to hesitate. Then he said:
“I am going in the direction of the Palais Royal.”
“In that case, if you will allow me, Monsieur l'Abbe, I will offer you the shelter of my umbrella: As for me, I am going to the council. I am a councillor of state.”
The old priest raised his head and looked at his neighbor and then exclaimed:
“I thank you, monsieur. I shall be glad to accept your offer.”
M. Marin then took his arm and led him away. He directed him, watched over him and advised him.
“Be careful of that stream, Monsieur l'Abbe. And be very careful about the carriage wheels; they spatter you with mud sometimes from head to foot. Look out for the umbrellas of the people passing by; there is nothing more dangerous to the eyes than the tips of the ribs24. Women especially are unbearable25; they pay no heed26 to where they are going and always jab you in the face with the point of their parasols or umbrellas. And they never move aside for anybody. One would suppose the town belonged to them. They monopolize27 the pavement and the street. It is my opinion that their education has been greatly neglected.”
And M. Marin laughed.
The priest did not reply. He walked along, slightly bent28 over, picking his steps carefully so as not to get mud on his boots or his cassock.
M. Marin resumed:
“I suppose you have come to Paris to divert your mind a little?”
The good man replied:
“No, I have some business to attend to.”
“Ali! Is it important business? Might I venture to ask what it is? If I can be of any service to you, you may command me.”
The priest seemed embarrassed. He murmured:
“Oh, it is a little personal matter; a little difficulty with—with my bishop29. It would not interest you. It is a matter of internal regulation—an ecclesiastical affair.”
M. Marin was eager.
“But it is precisely31 the state council that regulates all those things. In that case, make use of me.”
“Yes, monsieur, it is to the council that I am going. You are a thousand times too kind. I have to see M. Lerepere and M. Savon and also perhaps M. Petitpas.”
M. Marin stopped short.
“Why, those are my friends, Monsieur l'Abbe, my best friends, excellent colleagues, charming men. I will speak to them about you, and very highly. Count upon me.”
The cure thanked him, apologizing for troubling him, and stammered32 out a thousand grateful promises.
“Ah, you may be proud of having made a stroke of luck, Monsieur l'Abbe. You will see—you will see that, thanks to me, your affair will go along swimmingly.”
They reached the council hall. M. Marin took the priest into his office, offered him a chair in front of the fire and sat down himself at his desk and began to write.
“My dear colleague, allow me to recommend to you most highly a venerable and particularly worthy34 and deserving priest, M. L'Abbe——”
He stopped and asked:
“Your name, if you please?”
“L'Abbe Ceinture.”
“M. l'Abbe Ceinture, who needs your good office in a little matter which he will communicate to you.
“I am pleased at this incident which gives me an opportunity, my dear colleague——”
And he finished with the usual compliments.
When he had written the three letters he handed them to his protege, who took his departure with many protestations of gratitude35.
M. Marin attended to some business and then went home, passed the day quietly, slept well, woke in a good humor and sent for his newspapers.
“OUR CLERGY AND OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
“We shall never make an end of enumerating37 the misdeeds of the clergy. A certain priest, named Ceinture, convicted of conspiracy38 against the present government, accused of base actions to which we will not even allude39, suspected besides of being a former Jesuit, metamorphosed into a simple priest, suspended by a bishop for causes that are said to be unmentionable and summoned to Paris to give an explanation of his conduct, has found an ardent40 defender41 in the man named Marin, a councillor of state, who was not afraid to give this frocked malefactor42 the warmest letters of recommendation to all the republican officials, his colleagues.
M. Marin bounded out of bed, dressed himself and hastened to his colleague, Petitpas, who said to him:
“How now? You were crazy to recommend to me that old conspirator44!”
M. Marin, bewildered, stammered out:
“Why no—you see—I was deceived. He looked such an honest man. He played me a trick—a disgraceful trick! I beg that you will sentence him severely45, very severely. I am going to write. Tell me to whom I should write about having him punished. I will go and see the attorney-general and the archbishop of Paris—yes, the archbishop.”
“Monseigneur, I have the honor to bring to your grace's notice the fact that I have recently been made a victim of the intrigues47 and lies of a certain Abbe Ceinture, who imposed on my kind-heartedness.
“Deceived by the representations of this ecclesiastic30, I was led——”
Then, having signed and sealed his letter, he turned to his colleague and exclaimed:
“See here; my dear friend, let this be a warning to you never to recommend any one again.”
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1
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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2
spouted
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| adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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3
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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4
persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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5
drudgery
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| n.苦工，重活，单调乏味的工作 | |
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6
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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7
vendors
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| n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方 | |
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8
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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9
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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10
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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11
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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12
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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13
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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14
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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15
inundating
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| v.淹没( inundate的现在分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付 | |
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16
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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17
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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18
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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19
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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20
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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21
itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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22
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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23
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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24
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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25
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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26
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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27
monopolize
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| v.垄断，独占，专营 | |
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28
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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29
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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30
ecclesiastic
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| n.教士，基督教会；adj.神职者的，牧师的，教会的 | |
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31
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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32
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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34
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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35
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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36
radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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37
enumerating
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的现在分词 ) | |
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38
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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39
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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40
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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41
defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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42
malefactor
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| n.罪犯 | |
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43
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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44
conspirator
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| n.阴谋者，谋叛者 | |
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45
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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46
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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47
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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