He dislikes me, as if he thought I loved you; and he prevents me from telling you of a way that I think I have found to place you in the sphere for which you were destined.

No, madame," he continued, rising, "the Abbe Gondrin will not preach this year through Lent at our humble Saint-Jacques du Haut-Pas; the preacher will be Monsieur d'Estival, a compatriot of mine, and you will hear in him one of the most impressive speakers that I have ever known,--a priest whose outward appearance is not agreeable, but, oh! what a soul!" "Then my desire will be gratified," said poor Madame Thuillier.

"I have never yet been able to understand a famous preacher." A smile flickered on the lips of Mademoiselle Thuillier and several others who heard the remark.
"They devote themselves too much to theological demonstration," said Theodose.

"I have long thought so myself--but I never talk religion; if it had not been for Madame _de_ Colleville, I--" "Are there demonstrations in theology ?" asked the professor of mathematics, naively, plunging headlong into the conversation.
"I think, monsieur," replied Theodose, looking straight at Felix Phellion, "that you cannot be serious in asking me such a question." "Felix," said old Phellion, coming heavily to the rescue of his son, and catching a distressed look on the pale face of Madame Thuillier,--"Felix separates religion into two categories; he considers it from the human point of view and the divine point of view,--tradition and reason." "That is heresy, monsieur," replied Theodose.

"Religion is one; it requires, above all things, faith." Old Phellion, nonplussed by that remark, nodded to his wife:-- "It is getting late, my dear," and he pointed to the clock.
"Oh, Monsieur Felix," said Celeste in a whisper to the candid mathematician, "Couldn't you be, like Pascal and Bossuet, learned and pious both ?" The Phellions, on departing, carried the Collevilles with them.