Shall we go down the Rue d'Orsel this evening ?" Abbe Rose's eyes beamed brightly as he spoke, for this proposal of his signified a great debauch, the tasting of forbidden fruit.

He had been reproached so often and so roughly with his visits to those who had fallen to the deepest want and misery, that in spite of his overflowing, apostolic compassion, he now scarcely dared to go near them.

However, he continued: "Is it agreed, my child?
Only this once?
Besides, it is our only means of finding the big Old'un.

You won't have to stop with me later than eleven.

And I should so like to show you all that! You will see what terrible sufferings there are! And perhaps we may be fortunate enough to relieve some poor creature or other." Pierre smiled at the juvenile ardour displayed by this old man with snowy hair.