第135章

The virtuous young men, such as were religiously attentive to tiresome sermons, were married to rich orphans of the Sacred Heart Convents, who were held in reserve for the purpose; poor young girls, who, learning too late what it is to have a pious husband selected and imposed upon them by a set of devotees, often expiated by very bitter tears the deceitful favor of thus being admitted into a world of hypocrisy and falsehood, in which they found themselves strangers without support, crushed by it if they dared to complain of the marriages to which they had been condemned.

In the parlor of Madame de Saint-Dizier were appointed prefects, colonels, treasurers, deputies, academicians, bishops and peers of the realm, from whom nothing more was required in return for the all-powerful support bestowed upon them, but to wear a pious gloss, sometimes publicly take the communion, swear furious war against everything impious or revolutionary,--and above all, correspond confidentially upon "different subjects of his choosing" with the Abbe d'Aigrigny,--an amusement, moreover, which was very agreeable; for the abbe was the most amiable man in the world, the most witty, and above all, the most obliging.The following is an historical fact, which requires the bitter and vengeful irony of Moliere or Pascal to do it justice.

During the last year of the Restoration, there was one of the mighty dignitaries of the court a firm and independent man, who did not make profession (as the holy fathers call it), that is, who did not communicate at the altar.The splendor amid which he moved was calculated to give the weight of a very injurious example to his indifference.The Abbe-Marquis d'Aigrigny was therefore despatched to him; and he knowing the honorable and elevated character of the non-

communicant, thought that if he could only bring him to profess by any means (whatever the means might be) the effect would be what was desired.

Like a man of intellect, the abbe prized the dogma but cheaply himself.

He only spoke of the suitableness of the step, and of the highly salutary example which the resolution to adopt it would afford to the public.

"M.Abbe," replied the person sought to be influenced, "I have a greater respect for religion than you have.I should consider it an infamous mockery to go to the communion table without feeling the proper conviction."

"Nonsense! you inflexible man! you frowning Alcestes," said the Marquis-

Abbe, smiling slyly."Your profits and your scruples will go together, believe me, by listening to me.In short, we shall manage to make it a BLANK COMMUNION for you; for after all, what is it that we ask?--only the APPEARANCE!"

Now, a BLANK COMMUNION means breaking an unconsecrated wafer!

The Abbe-Marquis retired with his offers, which were rejected with indignation;--but then, the refractory man was dismissed from his place at court.This was but a single isolated fact.Woe to all who found themselves opposed to the interest and principles of Madame de Saint-

Dizier or her friends! Sooner or later, directly or indirectly, they felt themselves cruelly stabbed, generally immediately--some in their dearest connections, others in their credit, some in their honor; others in their official functions; and all by secret action, noiseless, continuous, and latent, in time becoming a terrible and mysterious dissolvent, which invisibly undermined reputations, fortunes, positions the most solidly established, until the moment when all sunk forever into the abyss, amid the surprise and terror of the beholders.

It will now be conceived how under the Restoration the Princess de Saint-