第43章

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 day--a day made solemn by the power of the spirit within him--Godefroid 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.