Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Name: The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village
Author: Gilbert Keith Chesterton

The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

Summary

“The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village”, published in 1909, is a work by Gilbert Keith Chesterton. It explores elements such as MacIan, Madeleine Durand and Turnbull.

Quotes from The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (Gilbert Keith Chesterton)

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ On one such evening at least no one was in church except the quiet, unconquerable Madeleine, four old women, one fisherman, and, of course, the irrepressible M. Camille Bert. The others seemed to melt away afterwards into the peacock colours of the dim green grass and the dark blue sky. Even Durand was invisible instead of being merely reverentially remote; and Madeleine set forth through the patch of black forest alone. She was not in the least afraid of loneliness, because she was not afraid of devils. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ Madeleine Durand had come to a halt at first in childish wonder, and now, with more than masculine self-control, "I fancy I know your face, sir," she said, as if to gain time.
"I know I shall not forget yours," said the other, and extended once more his ungainly arms in an unnatural gesture. Then of a sudden there came out of him a spout of wild and yet pompous phrases. "It is as well that you should know the worst and the best. I am a man who knows no limit; I am the most callous of criminals, the most unrepentant of sinners. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ One man in particular had made himself an unmistakable figure in the track of this girl as she went to church. He was a short, prosperous-looking man, whose long, bushy black beard and clumsy black umbrella made him seem both shorter and older than he really was; but whose big, bold eyes, and step that spurned the ground, gave him an instant character of youth.
His name was Camille Bert, and he was a commercial traveller who had only been in the island an idle week before he began to hover in the tracks of Madeleine Durand. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ Since everyone knows everyone in so small a place, Madeleine certainly knew him to speak to; but it is not very evident that she ever spoke. He haunted her, however; especially at church, which was, indeed, one of the few certain places for finding her. In her home she had a habit of being invisible, sometimes through insatiable domesticity, sometimes through an equally insatiable solitude. M. Bert did not give the impression of a pious man, though he did give, especially with his eyes, the impression of an honest one. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ But when people dine with my father and say that fighting a duel is mere murder--of course I can see that is not just. It's all so different--having a reason--and letting the other man know--and using the same guns and things--and doing it in front of your friends. I'm awfully stupid, but I know that men like you aren't murderers. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ Turnbull had already ducked under the intoxicated gentleman's elbow and fled far in front.
"No, but look here," said Mr. Wilkinson, enthusiastically running after MacIan and catching him by the sleeve of his coat. "If you want to hurry you should take a yacht, and if"--he said, with a burst of rationality, like one leaping to a further point in logic--"if you want a yacht--you can have mine."
Evan pulled up abruptly and looked back at him. "We are really in the devil of a hurry," he said, "and if you really have a yacht, the truth is that we would give our ears for it." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ She left upon ordinary people the impression--the somewhat irritating impression--produced by such a person; it can only be described as the sense of strong water being perpetually poured into some abyss. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ You pretend to be a Catholic commercial traveller from France. Poor Mr. MacIan has to pretend to be a dissolute nobleman from nowhere. Your scheme succeeds; you pick a quite convincing quarrel; you arrange a quite respectable duel; the duel you have planned so long will come off tomorrow with absolute certainty and safety. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ Bert seemed to crush his teeth together until they broke, and managed to say between them: "And why should you suppose that I shouldn't do as you say--I mean not to do it at all?"
"You always go to Mass," answered the girl, opening her wide blue eyes, "and the Mass is very long and tiresome unless one loves God."
Then it was that Bert exploded with a brutality which might have come from Count Gregory, his criminal opponent. He advanced upon Madeleine with flaming eyes, and almost took her by the two shoulders. "I do not love God," he cried, speaking French with the broadest Scotch accent ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ I thought that as you always go to church--I thought you would communicate this morning."
Bert stepped backward with a sort of action she had never seen in him before. It seemed to alter his whole body.
"You may be right or wrong to risk dying," said the girl, simply; "the poor women in our village risk it whenever they have a baby. You men are the other half of the world. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ He pointed furiously at Turnbull and shouted his name. A policeman ran excitedly from under an archway and tried to collar him. Two men selling vegetables dropped their baskets and joined in the chase. Turnbull dodged the constable, upset one of the men into his own basket, and bounding towards the distinguished foreign Count, called to him clamorously: "Come on, MacIan, the hunt is up again."
The prompt reply of Count Gregory was to pull off his large yellow whiskers and scatter them on the breeze with an air of considerable relief. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ A state of mind so hopelessly central is depressing to the English instinct. But then in England a man announcing these platitudes is generally a fool and a frightened fool, announcing them out of mere social servility. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ I don't talk about what I don't understand. No one has ever hit me; and if they had I should not feel as a man may. I am sure it is not the best thing to fight. It would be better to forgive--if one could really forgive. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ The father with his square face and grey side whiskers, the daughter with her square face and golden fringe of hair, were both stronger than they know; stronger than anyone knew. The father believed in civilization, in the storied tower we have erected to affront nature; that is, the father believed in Man. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ Then he joined the flight of Turnbull, and even as he did so, with one wrench of his powerful hands rent and split the strange, thick stick that he carried. Inside it was a naked old-fashioned rapier. The two got a good start up the road before the whole town was awakened behind them ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (1909)

“ Turnbull's singular umbrella.
The two had a long race for the harbour; but the English police were heavy and the French inhabitants were indifferent. In any case, they got used to the notion of the road being clear; and just as they had come to the cliffs MacIan banged into another gentleman with unmistakable surprise. How he knew he was another gentleman merely by banging into him, must remain a mystery. MacIan was a very poor and very sober Scotch gentleman. The other was a very drunk and very wealthy English gentleman. ”

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

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Quotes from The Ball and the Cross — XI: A Scandal in the Village (Gilbert Keith Chesterton)

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