of newspapers on a shelf, and in feverish phrases he
explained the articles of his faith: disarmament of troops, abolition of
the magistracy, equality of salaries, a levelling process by which the
golden age was to be brought about under the form of the Republic, with
a dictator at its head--a fellow that would carry this out for us
briskly!

Then he reached for a bottle of aniseed cordial and three glasses, in
order to propose the toast of the hero, the immortal victim, the great
Maximilian.

On the threshold appeared the black cassock of the priest. Having
saluted those present in an animated fashion, he addressed the
schoolmaster, speaking almost in a whisper:

"Our business about St. Joseph, what stage is it at?"

"They have given nothing," replied the schoolmaster.

"That is your fault!"

"I have done what I could."

"Ha! really?"

Bouvard and Pecuchet discreetly rose. Petit made them sit down again,
and addressing the cure:

"Is that all?"

The Abbe Jeufroy hesitated. Then, with a smile which tempered his
reprimand:

"It is supposed that you are rather negligent about sacred history."

"Oh, sacred history!" interrupted Bouvard.

"What fault have you to find with it, sir?"

"I--none. Only there are perhaps more useful things to be learned than
the anecdote of Jonas and the story of the kings of Israel."

"You are free to do as you please," replied the priest drily.

And without regard for the strangers, or on account of their presence:

"The catechism hour is too short."

Petit shrugged his shoulders.

"Mind! You will lose your boarders!"

The ten francs a month for these pupils formed the best part of his
remuneration. But the cassock exasperated him.

"So much the worse; take your revenge!"

"A man of my character does not revenge himself," said the priest,
without being moved. "Only I would remind you that the law of the
fifteenth of March assigns us to the superintendence of primary
education."

"Ah! I know that well," cried the schoolmaster. "It is given even to
colonels of gendarmes. Why not to the rural guard? That would complete
the thing!"

And he sank upon the stool, biting his fingers, repressing his rage,
stifled by the feeling of his own powerlessness.

The priest touched him lightly on the shoulder.

"I did not intend to annoy you, my friend. Keep yourself quiet. Be a
little reasonable. Here is Easter close at hand; I hope you will show
an example by going to commun