下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
A t six o'clock in the morning, Mr. Appert, armed with an introduction to the priest from Paris, arrived in town, and went directly to the church.
As he read the letter addressed to him by the head priest,who was also the wealthiest landowner in the province, the local priest, Chelan, became lost in thought.
“The town leaders won't like this. But I am old and liked here,” he murmured to himself at length, “they would never dare!” Turning at once to the gentleman from Paris, he said,“Come with me, Sir, and in the presence of the superintendents of the poorhouse, be so good as not to express any opinion of the things we shall see.”
Mr. Appert accompanied the priest, visited the prison,the hospital, the poorhouse, asked many questions and, notwithstanding strange answers, did not allow himself to utter the least word of reproach .
This visit lasted for some hours. And such are the events which, commented upon and exaggerated in twenty different ways, had been arousing for the last two days all the evil passions of the little town of Verrieres.
One morning, accompanied by Mr. Valenod, the governor of the poorhouse, the Mayor had gone to the priest's house, to inform him of their extreme displeasure . The priest felt the full force of their words.
“Well, gentlemen, I shall be the third priest, eighty years of age, to be deprived of his living in this district. I have been here for fifty-six years; I shall live in the town all the same. You all know that forty-eight years ago I inherited a piece of land which brings me enough money to live upon. I shall live upon it and nothing more.”
Mr. de Renal lived with his wife and three sons. One day,during their usual walk through town he said, “I am quite determined to engage Sorel's son to be our children's tutor.He is a young priest, a good Latin scholar, and will bring the children on; for he has a strong character, Father Chelan says. I shall give him 300 francs and his board.”
“My dear, how quickly you make up your mind!”
“That is because I have a strong character, as the old priest, Chelan, has had occasion to see. There's no doubt about it, we are surrounded by Liberals here. I wish them to see Mr. de Renal's children go by, out walking in the care of their tutor. It will make an impression. Besides, Mr. Valenod has just bought two new beautiful horses. We have to keep ahead of him in appearances.”
This sudden decision plunged Madame de Renal deep in thought. She was a tall, well-made woman, who had been the beauty of the place. She was a simple soul, who had never risen even to the point of criticising her husband, and admitting that he bored her. She supposed, without telling herself so,that between husband and wife there could be no more tender relations. She was especially fond of Mr. de Renal when he spoke to her of his plans for their children, one of whom he intended to place in the army, the second on the bench, and the third in the church. In short, she found Mr. de Renal a great deal less boring than any of the other men of her acquaintance.
introduction /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/ n. 介绍；引进
murmur /ˈmɜ:mə/ vi. 低声说，低语
superintendent / ˌ sju:pərɪn ˈtendənt/ n. 主管，负责人，管理者
notwithstanding / ˌ nɒtwɪð ˈ s t æ n d ɪ ŋ / prep. 虽然，尽管
reproach /rɪˈprəʊtʃ/ n. 责备
displeasure /dɪsˈpleʒə/ n. 不愉快，不满意
deprive /dɪˈpraɪv/ vt. 剥夺，使丧失