صفحة 679 من 1118

And this man before me," continued he, regarding him as if he

feared he could hear his thoughts, "and this man, after having,

by his villanies, turned the world upside down, now turns it

upside down by his conversion-if he is really converted!

Meanwhile, it is I who am to put it to the test! Some people

always want to make a noise! Is it so difficult to act an honest

part, all one's life, as I have? Not at all! but they prefer to

murder, kill, and play the devil.-Oh! unhappy man that I am! they

must always be in a bustle, even in doing penance! just as if one

could not repent at home, in private, without so much

noise,-without giving others so much trouble.-And his illustrious

lordship! to receive him all at once with open arms; to call him

his dear friend, his worthy friend; to listen to his least words

as if he had seen him work miracles, to give him his public

approbation to assist him in all his undertakings; I should call

this precipitation!