And he wrote three letters:  one to his uncle, the other to the Comtesse, and the third to the Bishop, entreating them to excuse him, and telling them that he did not feel qualified to perform his ministry in a large town.  He implored Monseigneur to leave him at Althausen and to think no more about him.

But the night brings counsel.  And when he woke up the next morning and saw his three letters on the table, he thought that he could not do a more awkward thing.

He threw them in the fire, dressed and went out.  The idea came to him of going to see the parish which was destined for him.  He followed the streets, drawn in a straight line, of that too regular city, and when he arrived at the corner of the Rue des Carmes, he heard his name pronounced.  Be turned round and saw the landlord of the inn where he was accustomed to stay, when he came to Nancy.

—­What, you are passing before my door without coming in, Monsieur le Cure; I was expecting you, however.  I had prepared your room.

—­You were expecting me, Monsieur Patin?  And who told you that I was here?

—­Who told me that?  It was a young person who is very pretty, upon my word.  She came to ask for you yesterday evening, and we expected you up to ten o’clock.

—­Dark? said Marcel much disturbed.

—­No, fair, the prettiest fair complexion which I have ever seen.

Marcel remembered immediately the little mountebank, whom he had altogether forgotten, and to whom he had given the address of Monsieur Patin’s hotel, where he had expected to stay.

—­It is a young girl who is recommended to me, he said; I regret that I did not see her.

—­You are not coming in?

—­No, for perhaps I am going to set out again for Althausen.

—­For Althausen.  That is impossible to-day.  I have just seen the diligence go by.  Come, you will sleep once more at my house, Monsieur Marcel; your room is quite ready, and my wife, who has a fancy for you, will not let you go away.  Stay, here she comes; she has recognized your voice.

The little Madame Patin, plump, brown, active and pretty, hastened up, indeed, and compelled Marcel to come in, almost in spite of himself.

—­You shall remain, you shall remain! she said to him, relieving him of his hat.

—­No, he answered smiling, I shall not remain, and I will tell you the reason.  I came with my uncle, and I have my room at Madame de Montluisant’s.

Before that declaration Monsieur and Madame Patin bowed.

—­Ah, that is not right, said Madame Patin; Madame de Montluisant is opposing us, she is drawing our clients to her house....  My dear, have you told Monsieur Marcel that a young person has come?...

—­Your husband has told me, Madame, and that proves to you that I certainly had the intention of staying with you, since I showed her your address.  It had escaped my memory, otherwise I should have called to ask you to send the young person to Madame de Montluisant’s.