The priest and Godefroid were both surprised when they entered together the rue Massilon, which is opposite to the small north portal of the cathedral, and turned together into the rue Chanoinesse, at the point where, towards the rue de la Colombe, it becomes the rue des Marmousets.When Godefroid stopped before the arched portal of Madame de la Chanterie's house, the priest turned towards him and examined him by the light of the hanging street-lamp, probably one of the last to disappear from the heart of old Paris.
"Have you come to see Madame de la Chanterie, monsieur?" said the priest.
"Yes," replied Godefroid."The words I heard you say to that workman show me that, if you live here, this house must be salutary for the soul.""Then you were a witness of my defeat," said the priest, raising the knocker of the door, "for I did not succeed.""I thought, on the contrary, it was the workman who did not succeed;he demanded money energetically."
"Alas!" replied the priest, "one of the great evils of revolutions in France is that each offers a fresh premium to the ambitions of the lower classes.To get out of his condition, to make his fortune (which is regarded to-day as the only social standard), the working-man throws himself into some of those monstrous associations which, if they do not succeed, ought to bring the speculators to account before human justice.This is what trusts often lead to."The porter opened a heavy door.The priest said to Godefroid:
"Monsieur has perhaps come about the little suite of rooms?""Yes, monsieur."