Chapter 174 Mass of the Five Hopes Has the Function of Turning People into Revolutionaries

Marius had always retained the religious habits of his childhood.One Sunday he went to Mass at Saint-Sulpice, the church of Our Lady, where his aunt had brought him to worship as a child.That day, his mood was more scattered and heavy than usual, so he accidentally went to kneel on a Utrecht velvet chair behind a stone pillar. Husband." Mass had just begun when an old man came up to Marius and said: "Sir, this is my seat." Marius moved quickly to let the old man take his seat. After the Mass, Marius was standing a few steps away, thinking, when the old man came up to him again and said:

"I come to apologize to you, sir. I have disturbed you just now, and now I am disturbing you again. You must think that I am a little unreasonable. I have to explain to you." "Sir," said Marius, "no need." "Be sure to explain," continued the old man, "I don't want to make a bad impression on you. You can see that I value this seat. I think it is better to go to Mass in this seat. Why? Let me make it clear to you. It was in this very place, for many years, every two or three months, that I saw a poor good father come to see his child, and it was the only time he could see his child and method, because, because of the agreement reached by the family, he was not allowed near his child. He knew when the child was brought to Mass, and he came at that time. The little one did not know that his father was here. He probably didn't know he had a father yet, a real child! His father, lest he be seen, stayed behind this pillar. He looked at his child, and nothing but tears. He loved his child Oh, poor man! I saw that, and this place became a sanctuary in my heart. I always like to stay here when I come to Mass. It has become a habit. I am the priest of the church, and I was originally There is my meritorious bench to sit on, but I like to stay here. I also know a little about the misfortune of that gentleman. He has a father-in-law, a rich sister-in-law, and some relatives, I don’t know much about it That guy threatened him, not allowing him as a father to visit his child, otherwise, his child would not be allowed to inherit the inheritance. He had to sacrifice himself for his son to be rich and happy in the future. Father and son were separated for political differences. Of course I agree with all political opinions, but some people are too endless. My God! A person never becomes a devil just because he has been to Waterloo. We always It should not be for that reason to force the father out of touch with his child. The man was a colonel of Bonaparte. He is dead, I think so. He lived in Vernon, my My brother's a priest in that town, and he's called Pommarie or Mon Persie or something. My God, he's got a big stab wound on his face."

"Pontmercy?" asked Marius, pale. "Exactly. It is Pontmercy. Do you know him?" "Sir," said Marius, "that is my father." The old finance priest clasped his hands and said aloud: "Ah! You are the boy! Yes, yes, he must be a grown-up by now. Well! Poor boy, you may be said to have had a father who really loved you!" Marius put his arm around the old man, and led him home.Next day he said to M. Gillenormand: "I have an appointment with some friends to go hunting. Will you let me go for a game and not go home for three days?" "Four days!" replied his grandfather, "Go and have fun."

At the same time, winking, he whispered to his daughter: "Found the girls!"