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Les Mis&eacute;rables, Volume 1: FANTINE, Book First: A Just Man, Chapter 7: Cravatte<br />
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Les Mis&eacute;rables, Volume 1: Fantine, Book First: A Just Man, Chapter 7: Cravatte<br />
 
(Tome 1: Fantine, Livre premier: Un juste, Chapitre 7: Cravatte)
 
(Tome 1: Fantine, Livre premier: Un juste, Chapitre 7: Cravatte)
  
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==French text==
 
==French text==
 
  
 
Ici se place naturellement un fait que nous ne devons pas omettre, car
 
Ici se place naturellement un fait que nous ne devons pas omettre, car
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de Digne.
 
de Digne.
  
 
 
Apr&egrave;s la destruction de la bande de Gaspard B&egrave;s qui avait infest&eacute; les
 
Apr&egrave;s la destruction de la bande de Gaspard B&egrave;s qui avait infest&eacute; les
 
gorges d'Ollioules, un de ses lieutenants, Cravatte, se r&eacute;fugia dans la
 
gorges d'Ollioules, un de ses lieutenants, Cravatte, se r&eacute;fugia dans la
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gendarmes.
 
gendarmes.
  
 
 
&mdash;Aussi, dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que, je compte aller sans escorte.
 
&mdash;Aussi, dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que, je compte aller sans escorte.
  
 
 
&mdash;Y pensez-vous, monseigneur? s'&eacute;cria le maire.
 
&mdash;Y pensez-vous, monseigneur? s'&eacute;cria le maire.
  
 
 
&mdash;J'y pense tellement, que je refuse absolument les gendarmes et que je
 
&mdash;J'y pense tellement, que je refuse absolument les gendarmes et que je
 
vais partir dans une heure.
 
vais partir dans une heure.
  
 
 
&mdash;Partir?
 
&mdash;Partir?
  
 
 
&mdash;Partir.
 
&mdash;Partir.
  
 
 
&mdash;Seul?
 
&mdash;Seul?
  
 
 
&mdash;Seul.
 
&mdash;Seul.
  
 
 
&mdash;Monseigneur! vous ne ferez pas cela.
 
&mdash;Monseigneur! vous ne ferez pas cela.
  
 
 
&mdash;Il y a l&agrave;, dans la montagne, reprit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que, une humble petite
 
&mdash;Il y a l&agrave;, dans la montagne, reprit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que, une humble petite
 
commune grande comme &ccedil;a, que je n'ai pas vue depuis trois ans. Ce sont
 
commune grande comme &ccedil;a, que je n'ai pas vue depuis trois ans. Ce sont
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je n'y allais pas?
 
je n'y allais pas?
  
 
 
&mdash;Mais, monseigneur, les brigands! Si vous rencontrez les brigands!
 
&mdash;Mais, monseigneur, les brigands! Si vous rencontrez les brigands!
  
 
 
&mdash;Tiens, dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que, j'y songe. Vous avez raison. Je puis les
 
&mdash;Tiens, dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que, j'y songe. Vous avez raison. Je puis les
 
rencontrer. Eux aussi doivent avoir besoin qu'on leur parle du bon Dieu.
 
rencontrer. Eux aussi doivent avoir besoin qu'on leur parle du bon Dieu.
  
 
 
&mdash;Monseigneur! mais c'est une bande! c'est un troupeau de loups!
 
&mdash;Monseigneur! mais c'est une bande! c'est un troupeau de loups!
  
 
 
&mdash;Monsieur le maire, c'est peut-&ecirc;tre pr&eacute;cis&eacute;ment de ce troupeau que
 
&mdash;Monsieur le maire, c'est peut-&ecirc;tre pr&eacute;cis&eacute;ment de ce troupeau que
 
J&eacute;sus me fait le pasteur. Qui sait les voies de la Providence?
 
J&eacute;sus me fait le pasteur. Qui sait les voies de la Providence?
  
 
 
&mdash;Monseigneur, ils vous d&eacute;valiseront.
 
&mdash;Monseigneur, ils vous d&eacute;valiseront.
  
 
 
&mdash;Je n'ai rien.
 
&mdash;Je n'ai rien.
  
 
 
&mdash;Ils vous tueront.
 
&mdash;Ils vous tueront.
  
 
 
&mdash;Un vieux bonhomme de pr&ecirc;tre qui passe en marmottant ses momeries? Bah!
 
&mdash;Un vieux bonhomme de pr&ecirc;tre qui passe en marmottant ses momeries? Bah!
 
&agrave; quoi bon?
 
&agrave; quoi bon?
  
 
 
&mdash;Ah! mon Dieu! si vous alliez les rencontrer!
 
&mdash;Ah! mon Dieu! si vous alliez les rencontrer!
  
 
 
&mdash;Je leur demanderai l'aum&ocirc;ne pour mes pauvres.
 
&mdash;Je leur demanderai l'aum&ocirc;ne pour mes pauvres.
  
 
 
&mdash;Monseigneur, n'y allez pas, au nom du ciel! vous exposez votre vie.
 
&mdash;Monseigneur, n'y allez pas, au nom du ciel! vous exposez votre vie.
  
 
 
&mdash;Monsieur le maire, dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que, n'est-ce d&eacute;cid&eacute;ment que cela? Je ne
 
&mdash;Monsieur le maire, dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que, n'est-ce d&eacute;cid&eacute;ment que cela? Je ne
 
suis pas en ce monde pour garder ma vie, mais pour garder les &acirc;mes.
 
suis pas en ce monde pour garder ma vie, mais pour garder les &acirc;mes.
  
 
 
Il fallut le laisser faire. Il partit, accompagn&eacute; seulement d'un enfant
 
Il fallut le laisser faire. Il partit, accompagn&eacute; seulement d'un enfant
 
qui s'offrit &agrave; lui servir de guide. Son obstination fit bruit dans le
 
qui s'offrit &agrave; lui servir de guide. Son obstination fit bruit dans le
 
pays, et effraya tr&egrave;s fort.
 
pays, et effraya tr&egrave;s fort.
  
 
 
Il ne voulut emmener ni sa s&oelig;ur ni madame Magloire. Il traversa la
 
Il ne voulut emmener ni sa s&oelig;ur ni madame Magloire. Il traversa la
 
montagne &agrave; mulet, ne rencontra personne, et arriva sain et sauf chez ses
 
montagne &agrave; mulet, ne rencontra personne, et arriva sain et sauf chez ses
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quelques vieilles chasubles de damas us&eacute; orn&eacute;es de galons faux.
 
quelques vieilles chasubles de damas us&eacute; orn&eacute;es de galons faux.
  
 
 
&mdash;Bah! dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que. Monsieur le cur&eacute;, annon&ccedil;ons toujours au pr&ocirc;ne notre
 
&mdash;Bah! dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que. Monsieur le cur&eacute;, annon&ccedil;ons toujours au pr&ocirc;ne notre
 
''Te Deum''. Cela s'arrangera.
 
''Te Deum''. Cela s'arrangera.
  
 
 
On chercha dans les &eacute;glises d'alentour. Toutes les magnificences de ces
 
On chercha dans les &eacute;glises d'alentour. Toutes les magnificences de ces
 
humbles paroisses r&eacute;unies n'auraient pas suffi &agrave; v&ecirc;tir convenablement un
 
humbles paroisses r&eacute;unies n'auraient pas suffi &agrave; v&ecirc;tir convenablement un
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''Cravatte &agrave; monseigneur Bienvenu''.
 
''Cravatte &agrave; monseigneur Bienvenu''.
  
 
 
&mdash;Quand je disais que cela s'arrangerait! dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que.
 
&mdash;Quand je disais que cela s'arrangerait! dit l'&eacute;v&ecirc;que.
  
 
 
Puis il ajouta en souriant:
 
Puis il ajouta en souriant:
  
 
 
&mdash;&Agrave; qui se contente d'un surplis de cur&eacute;, Dieu envoie une chape
 
&mdash;&Agrave; qui se contente d'un surplis de cur&eacute;, Dieu envoie une chape
 
d'archev&ecirc;que.
 
d'archev&ecirc;que.
  
 
 
&mdash;Monseigneur, murmura le cur&eacute; en hochant la t&ecirc;te avec un sourire, Dieu,
 
&mdash;Monseigneur, murmura le cur&eacute; en hochant la t&ecirc;te avec un sourire, Dieu,
 
ou le diable.
 
ou le diable.
  
 
 
L'&eacute;v&ecirc;que regarda fixement le cur&eacute; et reprit avec autorit&eacute;:
 
L'&eacute;v&ecirc;que regarda fixement le cur&eacute; et reprit avec autorit&eacute;:
  
 
 
&mdash;Dieu!
 
&mdash;Dieu!
  
 
 
Quand il revint au Chastelar, et tout le long de la route, on venait le
 
Quand il revint au Chastelar, et tout le long de la route, on venait le
 
regarder par curiosit&eacute;. Il retrouva au presbyt&egrave;re du Chastelar
 
regarder par curiosit&eacute;. Il retrouva au presbyt&egrave;re du Chastelar
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&agrave; sa s&oelig;ur:
 
&agrave; sa s&oelig;ur:
  
 
 
&mdash;Eh bien, avais-je raison? Le pauvre pr&ecirc;tre est all&eacute; chez ces pauvres
 
&mdash;Eh bien, avais-je raison? Le pauvre pr&ecirc;tre est all&eacute; chez ces pauvres
 
montagnards les mains vides, il en revient les mains pleines. J'&eacute;tais
 
montagnards les mains vides, il en revient les mains pleines. J'&eacute;tais
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cath&eacute;drale.
 
cath&eacute;drale.
  
 
 
Le soir, avant de se coucher, il dit encore:
 
Le soir, avant de se coucher, il dit encore:
  
 
 
&mdash;Ne craignons jamais les voleurs ni les meurtriers. Ce sont l&agrave; les
 
&mdash;Ne craignons jamais les voleurs ni les meurtriers. Ce sont l&agrave; les
 
dangers du dehors, les petits dangers. Craignons-nous nous-m&ecirc;mes. Les
 
dangers du dehors, les petits dangers. Craignons-nous nous-m&ecirc;mes. Les
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notre bourse! Ne songeons qu'&agrave; ce qui menace notre &acirc;me.
 
notre bourse! Ne songeons qu'&agrave; ce qui menace notre &acirc;me.
  
 
 
Puis se tournant vers sa s&oelig;ur:
 
Puis se tournant vers sa s&oelig;ur:
  
 
 
&mdash;Ma s&oelig;ur, de la part du pr&ecirc;tre jamais de pr&eacute;caution contre le
 
&mdash;Ma s&oelig;ur, de la part du pr&ecirc;tre jamais de pr&eacute;caution contre le
 
prochain. Ce que le prochain fait, Dieu le permet. Bornons-nous &agrave; prier
 
prochain. Ce que le prochain fait, Dieu le permet. Bornons-nous &agrave; prier
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occasion.
 
occasion.
  
 
 
Du reste, les &eacute;v&eacute;nements &eacute;taient rares dans son existence. Nous
 
Du reste, les &eacute;v&eacute;nements &eacute;taient rares dans son existence. Nous
 
racontons ceux que nous savons; mais d'ordinaire il passait sa vie &agrave;
 
racontons ceux que nous savons; mais d'ordinaire il passait sa vie &agrave;
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ressemblait &agrave; une heure de sa journ&eacute;e.
 
ressemblait &agrave; une heure de sa journ&eacute;e.
  
 
 
Quant &agrave; ce que devint &laquo;le tr&eacute;sor&raquo; de la cath&eacute;drale d'Embrun, on nous
 
Quant &agrave; ce que devint &laquo;le tr&eacute;sor&raquo; de la cath&eacute;drale d'Embrun, on nous
 
embarrasserait de nous interroger l&agrave;-dessus. C'&eacute;taient l&agrave; de bien belles
 
embarrasserait de nous interroger l&agrave;-dessus. C'&eacute;taient l&agrave; de bien belles
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Ubayette.
 
Ubayette.
  
 
 
He even pushed as far as Embrun, entered the cathedral one night, and
 
He even pushed as far as Embrun, entered the cathedral one night, and
 
despoiled the sacristy. His highway robberies laid waste the country-side.
 
despoiled the sacristy. His highway robberies laid waste the country-side.
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unfortunate gendarmes to no purpose.
 
unfortunate gendarmes to no purpose.
  
 
 
"Therefore," said the Bishop, "I intend to go without escort."
 
"Therefore," said the Bishop, "I intend to go without escort."
  
 
 
"You do not really mean that, Monseigneur!" exclaimed the mayor.
 
"You do not really mean that, Monseigneur!" exclaimed the mayor.
  
 
 
"I do mean it so thoroughly that I absolutely refuse any gendarmes, and
 
"I do mean it so thoroughly that I absolutely refuse any gendarmes, and
 
shall set out in an hour."
 
shall set out in an hour."
  
 
 
"Set out?"
 
"Set out?"
  
 
 
"Set out."
 
"Set out."
  
 
 
"Alone?"
 
"Alone?"
  
 
 
"Alone."
 
"Alone."
  
 
 
"Monseigneur, you will not do that!"
 
"Monseigneur, you will not do that!"
  
 
 
"There exists yonder in the mountains," said the Bishop, "a tiny community
 
"There exists yonder in the mountains," said the Bishop, "a tiny community
 
no bigger than that, which I have not seen for three years. They are my
 
no bigger than that, which I have not seen for three years. They are my
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say to a bishop who was afraid? What would they say if I did not go?"
 
say to a bishop who was afraid? What would they say if I did not go?"
  
 
 
"But the brigands, Monseigneur?"
 
"But the brigands, Monseigneur?"
  
 
 
"Hold," said the Bishop, "I must think of that. You are right. I may meet
 
"Hold," said the Bishop, "I must think of that. You are right. I may meet
 
them. They, too, need to be told of the good God."
 
them. They, too, need to be told of the good God."
  
 
 
"But, Monseigneur, there is a band of them! A flock of wolves!"
 
"But, Monseigneur, there is a band of them! A flock of wolves!"
  
 
 
"Monsieur le maire, it may be that it is of this very flock of wolves that
 
"Monsieur le maire, it may be that it is of this very flock of wolves that
 
Jesus has constituted me the shepherd. Who knows the ways of Providence?"
 
Jesus has constituted me the shepherd. Who knows the ways of Providence?"
  
 
 
"They will rob you, Monseigneur."
 
"They will rob you, Monseigneur."
  
 
 
"I have nothing."
 
"I have nothing."
  
 
 
"They will kill you."
 
"They will kill you."
  
 
 
"An old goodman of a priest, who passes along mumbling his prayers? Bah!
 
"An old goodman of a priest, who passes along mumbling his prayers? Bah!
 
To what purpose?"
 
To what purpose?"
  
 
 
"Oh, mon Dieu! what if you should meet them!"
 
"Oh, mon Dieu! what if you should meet them!"
  
 
 
"I should beg alms of them for my poor."
 
"I should beg alms of them for my poor."
  
 
 
"Do not go, Monseigneur. In the name of Heaven! You are risking your
 
"Do not go, Monseigneur. In the name of Heaven! You are risking your
 
life!"
 
life!"
  
 
 
"Monsieur le maire," said the Bishop, "is that really all? I am not in the
 
"Monsieur le maire," said the Bishop, "is that really all? I am not in the
 
world to guard my own life, but to guard souls."
 
world to guard my own life, but to guard souls."
  
 
 
They had to allow him to do as he pleased. He set out, accompanied only by
 
They had to allow him to do as he pleased. He set out, accompanied only by
 
a child who offered to serve as a guide. His obstinacy was bruited about
 
a child who offered to serve as a guide. His obstinacy was bruited about
 
the country-side, and caused great consternation.
 
the country-side, and caused great consternation.
  
 
 
He would take neither his sister nor Madame Magloire. He traversed the
 
He would take neither his sister nor Madame Magloire. He traversed the
 
mountain on mule-back, encountered no one, and arrived safe and sound at
 
mountain on mule-back, encountered no one, and arrived safe and sound at
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damask adorned with imitation lace.
 
damask adorned with imitation lace.
  
 
 
"Bah!" said the Bishop. "Let us announce our Te Deum from the pulpit,
 
"Bah!" said the Bishop. "Let us announce our Te Deum from the pulpit,
 
nevertheless, Monsieur le Curé. Things will arrange themselves."
 
nevertheless, Monsieur le Curé. Things will arrange themselves."
  
 
 
They instituted a search in the churches of the neighborhood. All the
 
They instituted a search in the churches of the neighborhood. All the
 
magnificence of these humble parishes combined would not have sufficed to
 
magnificence of these humble parishes combined would not have sufficed to
 
clothe the chorister of a cathedral properly.
 
clothe the chorister of a cathedral properly.
  
 
 
While they were thus embarrassed, a large chest was brought and deposited
 
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
 
in the presbytery for the Bishop, by two unknown horsemen, who departed on
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Bienvenu."
 
Bienvenu."
  
 
 
"Did not I say that things would come right of themselves?" said the
 
"Did not I say that things would come right of themselves?" said the
 
Bishop. Then he added, with a smile, "To him who contents himself with 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."
 
surplice of a curate, God sends the cope of an archbishop."
  
 
 
"Monseigneur," murmured the cure, throwing back his head with a smile.
 
"Monseigneur," murmured the cure, throwing back his head with a smile.
 
"God&mdash;or the Devil."
 
"God&mdash;or the Devil."
  
 
 
The Bishop looked steadily at the cure, and repeated with authority,
 
The Bishop looked steadily at the cure, and repeated with authority,
 
"God!"
 
"God!"
  
 
 
When he returned to Chastelar, the people came out to stare at him as at a
 
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
 
curiosity, all along the road. At the priest's house in Chastelar he
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brought back the treasure of a cathedral."
 
brought back the treasure of a cathedral."
  
 
 
That evening, before he went to bed, he said again: "Let us never fear
 
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
 
robbers nor murderers. Those are dangers from without, petty dangers. Let
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our soul."
 
our soul."
  
 
 
Then, turning to his sister: "Sister, never a precaution on the part of
 
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
 
the priest, against his fellow-man. That which his fellow does, God
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may not fall into sin on our account."
 
may not fall into sin on our account."
  
 
 
However, such incidents were rare in his life. We relate those of which we
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
be embarrassed by any inquiry in that direction. It consisted of very
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in these terms, "The question is, to decide whether this should be turned
 
in these terms, "The question is, to decide whether this should be turned
 
over to the cathedral or to the hospital."
 
over to the cathedral or to the hospital."
 
  
 
==Translation notes==
 
==Translation notes==

Latest revision as of 11:33, 2 March 2014

Les Misérables, Volume 1: Fantine, Book First: A Just Man, Chapter 7: Cravatte
(Tome 1: Fantine, Livre premier: Un juste, Chapitre 7: Cravatte)

General notes on this chapter[edit]

French text[edit]

Ici se place naturellement un fait que nous ne devons pas omettre, car il est de ceux qui font le mieux voir quel homme c'était que M. l'évêque de Digne.

Après la destruction de la bande de Gaspard Bès qui avait infesté les gorges d'Ollioules, un de ses lieutenants, Cravatte, se réfugia dans la montagne. Il se cacha quelque temps avec ses bandits, reste de la troupe de Gaspard Bès, dans le comté de Nice, puis gagna le Piémont, et tout à coup reparut en France, du côté de Barcelonnette. On le vit à Jauziers d'abord, puis aux Tuiles. Il se cacha dans les cavernes du Joug-de-l'Aigle, et de là il descendait vers les hameaux et les villages par les ravins de l'Ubaye et de l'Ubayette. Il osa même pousser jusqu'à Embrun, pénétra une nuit dans la cathédrale et dévalisa la sacristie. Ses brigandages désolaient le pays. On mit la gendarmerie à ses trousses, mais en vain. Il échappait toujours; quelquefois il résistait de vive force. C'était un hardi misérable. Au milieu de toute cette terreur, l'évêque arriva. Il faisait sa tournée. Au Chastelar, le maire vint le trouver et l'engagea à rebrousser chemin. Cravatte tenait la montagne jusqu'à l'Arche, et au-delà. Il y avait danger, même avec une escorte. C'était exposer inutilement trois ou quatre malheureux gendarmes.

—Aussi, dit l'évêque, je compte aller sans escorte.

—Y pensez-vous, monseigneur? s'écria le maire.

—J'y pense tellement, que je refuse absolument les gendarmes et que je vais partir dans une heure.

—Partir?

—Partir.

—Seul?

—Seul.

—Monseigneur! vous ne ferez pas cela.

—Il y a là, dans la montagne, reprit l'évêque, une humble petite commune grande comme ça, que je n'ai pas vue depuis trois ans. Ce sont mes bons amis. De doux et honnêtes bergers. Ils possèdent une chèvre sur trente qu'ils gardent. Ils font de fort jolis cordons de laine de diverses couleurs, et ils jouent des airs de montagne sur de petites flûtes à six trous. Ils ont besoin qu'on leur parle de temps en temps du bon Dieu. Que diraient-ils d'un évêque qui a peur? Que diraient-ils si je n'y allais pas?

—Mais, monseigneur, les brigands! Si vous rencontrez les brigands!

—Tiens, dit l'évêque, j'y songe. Vous avez raison. Je puis les rencontrer. Eux aussi doivent avoir besoin qu'on leur parle du bon Dieu.

—Monseigneur! mais c'est une bande! c'est un troupeau de loups!

—Monsieur le maire, c'est peut-être précisément de ce troupeau que Jésus me fait le pasteur. Qui sait les voies de la Providence?

—Monseigneur, ils vous dévaliseront.

—Je n'ai rien.

—Ils vous tueront.

—Un vieux bonhomme de prêtre qui passe en marmottant ses momeries? Bah! à quoi bon?

—Ah! mon Dieu! si vous alliez les rencontrer!

—Je leur demanderai l'aumône pour mes pauvres.

—Monseigneur, n'y allez pas, au nom du ciel! vous exposez votre vie.

—Monsieur le maire, dit l'évêque, n'est-ce décidément que cela? Je ne suis pas en ce monde pour garder ma vie, mais pour garder les âmes.

Il fallut le laisser faire. Il partit, accompagné seulement d'un enfant qui s'offrit à lui servir de guide. Son obstination fit bruit dans le pays, et effraya très fort.

Il ne voulut emmener ni sa sœur ni madame Magloire. Il traversa la montagne à mulet, ne rencontra personne, et arriva sain et sauf chez ses «bons amis» les bergers. Il y resta quinze jours, prêchant, administrant, enseignant, moralisant. Lorsqu'il fut proche de son départ, il résolut de chanter pontificalement un Te Deum. Il en parla au curé. Mais comment faire? pas d'ornements épiscopaux. On ne pouvait mettre à sa disposition qu'une chétive sacristie de village avec quelques vieilles chasubles de damas usé ornées de galons faux.

—Bah! dit l'évêque. Monsieur le curé, annonçons toujours au prône notre Te Deum. Cela s'arrangera.

On chercha dans les églises d'alentour. Toutes les magnificences de ces humbles paroisses réunies n'auraient pas suffi à vêtir convenablement un chantre de cathédrale. Comme on était dans cet embarras, une grande caisse fut apportée et déposée au presbytère pour M. l'évêque par deux cavaliers inconnus qui repartirent sur-le-champ. On ouvrit la caisse; elle contenait une chape de drap d'or, une mitre ornée de diamants, une croix archiépiscopale, une crosse magnifique, tous les vêtements pontificaux volés un mois auparavant au trésor de Notre-Dame d'Embrun. Dans la caisse, il y avait un papier sur lequel étaient écrits ces mots: Cravatte à monseigneur Bienvenu.

—Quand je disais que cela s'arrangerait! dit l'évêque.

Puis il ajouta en souriant:

—À qui se contente d'un surplis de curé, Dieu envoie une chape d'archevêque.

—Monseigneur, murmura le curé en hochant la tête avec un sourire, Dieu, ou le diable.

L'évêque regarda fixement le curé et reprit avec autorité:

—Dieu!

Quand il revint au Chastelar, et tout le long de la route, on venait le regarder par curiosité. Il retrouva au presbytère du Chastelar mademoiselle Baptistine et madame Magloire qui l'attendaient, et il dit à sa sœur:

—Eh bien, avais-je raison? Le pauvre prêtre est allé chez ces pauvres montagnards les mains vides, il en revient les mains pleines. J'étais parti n'emportant que ma confiance en Dieu; je rapporte le trésor d'une cathédrale.

Le soir, avant de se coucher, il dit encore:

—Ne craignons jamais les voleurs ni les meurtriers. Ce sont là les dangers du dehors, les petits dangers. Craignons-nous nous-mêmes. Les préjugés, voilà les voleurs; les vices, voilà les meurtriers. Les grands dangers sont au dedans de nous. Qu'importe ce qui menace notre tête ou notre bourse! Ne songeons qu'à ce qui menace notre âme.

Puis se tournant vers sa sœur:

—Ma sœur, de la part du prêtre jamais de précaution contre le prochain. Ce que le prochain fait, Dieu le permet. Bornons-nous à prier Dieu quand nous croyons qu'un danger arrive sur nous. Prions-le, non pour nous, mais pour que notre frère ne tombe pas en faute à notre occasion.

Du reste, les événements étaient rares dans son existence. Nous racontons ceux que nous savons; mais d'ordinaire il passait sa vie à faire toujours les mêmes choses aux mêmes moments. Un mois de son année ressemblait à une heure de sa journée.

Quant à ce que devint «le trésor» de la cathédrale d'Embrun, on nous embarrasserait de nous interroger là-dessus. C'étaient là de bien belles choses, et bien tentantes, et bien bonnes à voler au profit des malheureux. Volées, elles l'étaient déjà d'ailleurs. La moitié de l'aventure était accomplie; il ne restait plus qu'à changer la direction du vol, et qu'à lui faire faire un petit bout de chemin du côté des pauvres. Nous n'affirmons rien du reste à ce sujet. Seulement on a trouvé dans les papiers de l'évêque une note assez obscure qui se rapporte peut-être à cette affaire, et qui est ainsi conçue: La question est de savoir si cela doit faire retour à la cathédrale ou à l'hôpital.

English text[edit]

It is here that a fact falls naturally into place, which we must not omit, because it is one of the sort which show us best what sort of a man the Bishop of D—— was.

After the destruction of the band of Gaspard Bes, who had infested the gorges of Ollioules, one of his lieutenants, Cravatte, took refuge in the mountains. He concealed himself for some time with his bandits, the remnant of Gaspard Bes's troop, in the county of Nice; then he made his way to Piedmont, and suddenly reappeared in France, in the vicinity of Barcelonette. He was first seen at Jauziers, then at Tuiles. He hid himself in the caverns of the Joug-de-l'Aigle, and thence he descended towards the hamlets and villages through the ravines of Ubaye and Ubayette.

He even pushed as far as Embrun, entered the cathedral one night, and despoiled the sacristy. His highway robberies laid waste the country-side. The gendarmes were set on his track, but in vain. He always escaped; sometimes he resisted by main force. He was a bold wretch. In the midst of all this terror the Bishop arrived. He was making his circuit to Chastelar. The mayor came to meet him, and urged him to retrace his steps. Cravatte was in possession of the mountains as far as Arche, and beyond; there was danger even with an escort; it merely exposed three or four unfortunate gendarmes to no purpose.

"Therefore," said the Bishop, "I intend to go without escort."

"You do not really mean that, Monseigneur!" exclaimed the mayor.

"I do mean it so thoroughly that I absolutely refuse any gendarmes, and shall set out in an hour."

"Set out?"

"Set out."

"Alone?"

"Alone."

"Monseigneur, you will not do that!"

"There exists yonder in the mountains," said the Bishop, "a tiny community no bigger than that, which I have not seen for three years. They are my good friends, those gentle and honest shepherds. They own one goat out of every thirty that they tend. They make very pretty woollen cords of various colors, and they play the mountain airs on little flutes with six holes. They need to be told of the good God now and then. What would they say to a bishop who was afraid? What would they say if I did not go?"

"But the brigands, Monseigneur?"

"Hold," said the Bishop, "I must think of that. You are right. I may meet them. They, too, need to be told of the good God."

"But, Monseigneur, there is a band of them! A flock of wolves!"

"Monsieur le maire, it may be that it is of this very flock of wolves that Jesus has constituted me the shepherd. Who knows the ways of Providence?"

"They will rob you, Monseigneur."

"I have nothing."

"They will kill you."

"An old goodman of a priest, who passes along mumbling his prayers? Bah! To what purpose?"

"Oh, mon Dieu! what if you should meet them!"

"I should beg alms of them for my poor."

"Do not go, Monseigneur. In the name of Heaven! You are risking your life!"

"Monsieur le maire," said the Bishop, "is that really all? I am not in the world to guard my own life, but to guard souls."

They had to allow him to do as he pleased. He set out, accompanied only by a child who offered to serve as a guide. His obstinacy was bruited about the country-side, and caused great consternation.

He would take neither his sister nor Madame Magloire. He traversed the mountain on mule-back, encountered no one, and arrived safe and sound at the residence of his "good friends," the shepherds. He remained there for a fortnight, preaching, administering the sacrament, teaching, exhorting. When the time of his departure approached, he resolved to chant a Te Deum pontifically. He mentioned it to the cure. But what was to be done? There were no episcopal ornaments. They could only place at his disposal a wretched village sacristy, with a few ancient chasubles of threadbare damask adorned with imitation lace.

"Bah!" said the Bishop. "Let us announce our Te Deum from the pulpit, nevertheless, Monsieur le Curé. Things will arrange themselves."

They instituted a search in the churches of the neighborhood. All the magnificence of these humble parishes combined 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 come 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. "God—or 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 completed; 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."

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