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damask adorned with imitation lace。
〃Bah！〃 said the Bishop。
〃Let us announce our Te Deum from the pulpit； nevertheless； Monsieur le Cure。
Things will arrange themselves。〃
They instituted a search in the churches of the neighborhood。 All the magnificence of these humble parishes bined would not have sufficed to clothe the chorister of a cathedral properly。
While they were thus embarrassed； a large chest was brought and deposited in the presbytery for the Bishop； by two unknown horsemen； who departed on the instant。
The chest was opened； it contained a cope of cloth of gold； a mitre ornamented with diamonds； an archbishop's cross； a magnificent crosier；all the pontifical vestments which had been stolen a month previously from the treasury of Notre Dame d'Embrun。 In the chest was a paper； on which these words were written； 〃From Cravatte to Monseigneur Bienvenu。〃
〃Did not I say that things would e right of themselves？〃 said the Bishop。
Then he added； with a smile； 〃To him who contents himself with the surplice of a curate； God sends the cope of an archbishop。〃
〃Monseigneur；〃 murmured the cure； throwing back his head with a smile。 〃Godor the Devil。〃
The Bishop looked steadily at the cure； and repeated with authority； 〃God！〃
When he returned to Chastelar； the people came out to stare at him as at a curiosity； all along the road。
At the priest's house in Chastelar he rejoined Mademoiselle Baptistine and Madame Magloire； who were waiting for him； and he said to his sister：
〃Well！ was I in the right？
The poor priest went to his poor mountaineers with empty hands； and he returns from them with his hands full。 I set out bearing only my faith in God； I have brought back the treasure of a cathedral。〃
That evening； before he went to bed； he said again：
〃Let us never fear robbers nor murderers。
Those are dangers from without； petty dangers。
Let us fear ourselves。
Prejudices are the real robbers； vices are the real murderers。
The great dangers lie within ourselves。 What matters it what threatens our head or our purse！
Let us think only of that which threatens our soul。〃
Then； turning to his sister：
〃Sister； never a precaution on the part of the priest； against his fellow…man。 That which his fellow does； God permits。
Let us confine ourselves to prayer； when we think that a danger is approaching us。
Let us pray； not for ourselves； but that our brother may not fall into sin on our account。〃
However； such incidents were rare in his life。
We relate those of which we know； but generally he passed his life in doing the same things at the same moment。
One month of his year resembled one hour of his day。
As to what became of 〃the treasure〃 of the cathedral of Embrun； we should be embarrassed by any inquiry in that direction。 It consisted of very handsome things； very tempting things； and things which were very well adapted to be stolen for the benefit of the unfortunate。
Stolen they had already been elsewhere。 Half of the adventure was pleted； it only remained to impart a new direction to the theft； and to cause it to take a short trip in the direction of the poor。
However； we make no assertions on this point。
Only； a rather obscure note was found among the Bishop's papers； which may bear some relation to this matter； and which is couched in these terms； 〃The question is； to decide whether this should be turned over to the cathedral or to the hospital。〃
BOOK FIRSTA JUST MAN
CHAPTER VIII
PHILOSOPHY AFTER DRINKING
The senator above mentioned was a clever man； who had made his own way； heedless of those things which present obstacles； and which are called conscience； sworn faith； justice； duty：
he had marched straight to his goal； without once flinching in the line of his advancement and his interest。
He was an old attorney； softened by success； not a bad man by any means； who rendered all the small services in his power to his sons； his sons…in…law； his relations； and even to his friends； having wisely seized upon； in life； good sides； good opportunities； good windfalls。 Everything else seemed to him very stupid。
He was intelligent； and just sufficiently educated to think himself a disciple of Epicurus； while he was； in reality； only a product of Pigault…Lebrun。 He laughed willingly and pleasantly over infinite and eternal things； and at the 〃Crotchets of that good old fellow the Bishop。〃 He even sometimes laughed at him with an amiable authority in the presence of M。 Myriel himself； who listened to him。
On some semi…official occasion or other； I do not recollect what； Count*** ＇this senator＇ and M。 Myriel were to dine with the prefect。 At dessert； the senator； who was slightly exhilarated； though still perfectly dignified； exclaimed：
〃Egad； Bishop； let's have a discussion。
It is hard for a senator and a bishop to look at each other without winking。
We are two augurs。 I am going to make a confession to you。
I have a philosophy of my own。〃
〃And you are right；〃 replied the Bishop。
〃As one makes one's philosophy； so one lies on it。
You are on the bed of purple； senator。〃
The senator was encouraged； and went on：
〃Let us be good fellows。〃
〃Good devils even；〃 said the Bishop。
〃I declare to you；〃 continued the senator； 〃that the Marquis d'Argens； Pyrrhon； Hobbes； and M。 Naigeon are no rascals。 I have all the philosophers in my library gilded on the edges。〃
〃Like yourself； Count；〃 interposed the Bishop。
The senator resumed：
〃I hate Diderot； he is an ideologist； a declaimer； and a revolutionist； a believer in God at bottom； and more bigoted than Voltaire。 Voltaire made sport of Needham； and he was wrong； for Needham's eels prove that God is useless。
A drop of vinegar in a spoonful of flour paste supplies the fiat lux。
Suppose the drop to be larger and the spoonful bigger； you have the world。
Man is the eel。 Then what is the good of the Eternal Father？
The Jehovah hypothesis tires me； Bishop。
It is good for nothing but to produce shallow people； whose reasoning is hollow。