I really imagined that the investigation had been made." "It was not conclusive, since it failed to convince Mme.

de Lorcy." "Ah! who could convince Mme.

de Lorcy?
Do you forget how people of the world are constituted, and how they detest all that astonishes, all that exceeds their limits, all that they cannot weight with their small balances, measure with their tiny compasses ?" "_Peste!_ you are severe on the world; I always fancied that you were fond of it." "I do not know whether I am fond of it or not; it is certain that I scarcely should know how to live without it; but I surely may be permitted to pass an opinion on it, and I often tell myself that if Christ should reappear among us with his train of publicans and fisherman--are you listening ?--that if the meek and the lowly Jesus should come to preach his Sermon on the Mount in the Boulevard des Italiens--" "To make a show of probability," he interrupted, "suppose you were to place the scene at Montmartre.

Frankly, I cannot see what possible connection there can be between the Christ and your Count Larinski; and, pray, do not let us enter into a theological discussion; you know it is wholly out of my line.

Religion seems to me an excellent thing, a most useful thing, and I freely accept Christianity, minus the romantic side, with which I have no time to occupy myself.