Les Quarante-cinq. English
Page 19
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PRIORY OF THE JACOBINS.
The priory which the king had bestowed upon Gorenflot was situated nearthe Porte St. Antoine. This was at that time a very favorite quarter,for the king frequently visited the Chateau of Vincennes, and differentnoblemen had built charming residences in its neighborhood.
The priory was built on four sides of an immense court, planted withtrees; it had a kitchen-garden behind, and a number of out-houses, whichmade it look like a small village. Two hundred monks occupied thedormitories situated at the end of the courtyard, while in the front,four large windows, with a balcony before them, gave to these apartmentsair and light.
It was maintained on its own resources and dependencies; its pastureland fed a troop of fifty oxen and ninety-nine sheep, for by sometraditional law, no religious order was allowed to possess one hundredof anything, while certain outbuildings sheltered ninety-nine pigs of aparticular breed, which were most carefully reared and fattened. Theespaliers of the priory, which were exposed to the mid-day sun,furnished peaches, apricots, and grapes, while preserves of these fruitswere skillfully made by a certain Brother Eusebius, who was thearchitect of the famous rock constructed of sweetmeats which had beenpresented to the two queens by the Hotel de Ville of Paris at the laststate banquet which had taken place there.
In the interior of this paradise for gourmands and sluggards, in asumptuous apartment, we shall find Gorenflot, ornamented with anadditional chin, and characterized by that sort of venerable gravitywhich the constant habit of repose and good living gives to the mostvulgar faces. Half-past seven in the morning had just struck. The priorhad profited by the rule which gave to him an hour's more sleep than tothe other monks, and now, although he had risen, he was quietlycontinuing his sleep in a large armchair as soft as eider down. Thefurniture of the room was more mundane than religious; a carved table,covered with a rich cloth, books of religious gallantry--that singularmixture of love and devotion, which we only meet with at that epoch ofart--expensive vases, and curtains of rich damask, were some of theluxuries of which Dom Modeste Gorenflot had become possessed by thegrace of God, of the king, and of Chicot.
Gorenflot slept, as we have said, in his chair, when the door openedsoftly, and two men entered. The first was about thirty-five years ofage, thin and pale, and with a look which commanded, even before hespoke; lightnings seemed to dart from his eyes when they were open,although the expression was generally softened by a careful lowering ofthe white eyelids. This was Brother Borromee, who had been for the lastthree weeks treasurer of the convent. The other was a young man aboutseventeen or eighteen, with piercing black eyes, a bold look, and whoseturned-up sleeves displayed two strong arms quick in gesticulation.
"The prior sleeps still, Father Borromee," said he: "shall we wake him?"
"On no account, Brother Jacques."
"Really, it is a pity to have a prior who sleeps so long, for we mighthave tried the arms this morning. Did you notice what beautifulcuirasses and arquebuses there were among them?"
"Silence! brother; you will be heard."
"How unlucky," cried the young man, impatiently, stamping his feet, "itis so fine to-day, and the court is so dry."
"We must wait, my child," replied Borromee, with a submission his glancebelied.
"But why do you not order them to distribute the arms?"
"I, order!"
"Yes, you."
"You know that I am not the master here; there is the master."
"Yes, asleep, when every one else is awake," replied Jacques,impatiently.
"Let us respect his sleep," said Borromee, overturning a chair, however,as he spoke.
At the sound, Gorenflot looked up and said, sleepily, "Who is there?"
"Pardon us," said Borromee, "if we interrupt your pious meditations, butI have come to take your orders."
"Ah! good-morning, Brother Borromee; what orders do you want?"
"About the arms."
"What arms?"
"Those which your reverence ordered to be brought here."
"I, and when?"
"About a week ago."
"I ordered arms?"
"Without doubt," replied Borromee, firmly.
"And what for?"
"Your reverence said to me, 'Brother Borromee, it would be wise toprocure arms for the use of the brethren; gymnastic exercises developthe bodily forces, as pious exhortations do those of the soul.'"
"I said that?"
"Yes, reverend prior; and I, an unworthy but obedient brother, hastenedto obey."
"It is strange, but I remember nothing about it."
"You even added this text, '_Militat spiritu, militat gladio._'"
"What!" cried Gorenflot, "I added that text!"
"I have a faithful memory," said Borromee, lowering his eyes.
"Well, if I said so, of course I had my reasons for it. Indeed, thathas always been my opinion."
"Then I will finish executing your orders, reverend prior," saidBorromee, retiring with Jacques.
"Go," said Gorenflot, majestically.
"Ah!" said Borromee, "I had forgotten; there is a friend in the parlorwho asks to see your reverence."
"What is his name?"
"M. Robert Briquet."
"Oh! he is not a friend; only an acquaintance."
"Then your reverence will not see him?"
"Oh, yes! let him come up; he amuses me."