Marcel was already at the bottom of the stairs.  A valet called him back, and Gaudinet, after bringing out the little girl, introduced him to Monseigneur’s presence.

—­Ah, there you are, said the latter in a harsh tone, looking him straight in the face.  Why did you go away?

—­I was told that Monseigneur was engaged, and I feared to disturb your Lordship.

—­Who told you that?

—­The Abbe Gaudinet.

—­You are much changed.  I should not have recognized you.  I have received a letter from Monsieur le Cure of St. Nicholas, he added, searching on his desk.  Here it is.  He says that you have returned to better sentiments ... that you are amended, humbled before God ... that you wish henceforth to follow the good way ...  Is that so?

—­That is my desire, Monseigneur.

—­It is not enough to desire, sir, you must intend, firmly intend.

—­I intend also.

—­I intend to believe it.  I ask nothing better than to oblige my old friend Ridoux by doing something for you.  Sit down.  We are in want of priests, that is to say, intelligent, hard-working, active priests, on whom we can absolutely rely.  Times are becoming difficult.  Evil doctrines are spreading.  Faith is passing away.  Infamous writers, wretched pamphleteers are spreading everywhere, at so much a line, the seeds of doubt and perversity.  And to crown the evil, imprudent and maladroit priests are indulging their vices and creating scandal.  But we are not discouraged.  Is the holy arch in danger because a few nails are rusty, because a few cords are rotten?  Other nails and cords are supplied in their place, and the rottenness is cast away.  But we must not hide from ourselves that we are passing through a melancholy period.  This is what priests for the greater part do not clearly see.  They slumber in their priesthood, take their emoluments, grow fat, go their small way, and believe they have discharged their duty.  That is not the case.  When a man has the honour to be a priest, he must be active.  It is necessary, as in the time of the persecutions, to make proselytes and win souls; to confront the irreligious propaganda with our propaganda; lampoons, with lampoons; speeches, with sermons; acts, with acts.  In short, we must struggle.  Can we remain still and idle, when our Holy Father is imprisoned in a den of thieves?

The time has come.  We are fighting for our very existence, we must close the ranks, take count of ourselves, and above all see on what and on whom we can count.  Let us see what we can expect from you?  What do you ask?  You wish to come to the town?  I warn you that it will be hard, if you intend to do what I expect of you.

—­The trouble does not frighten me, Monseigneur.

—­You will have a difficult parish.  You will have to run foul of a thousand different interests, and not give the slightest pretext for slander.  You understand me?  There are five or six influential Liberals whose wives or daughters you must win over adroitly, and at any cost—­at any cost, you understand.  Do you feel yourself qualified for this work?  Are you the man we need?