by Alexandre Dumas

“ Monsieur de Retz wished to become archbishop in his uncle's place, and cardinal, like Mazarin; and the popular party could with difficulty accord him favors so entirely royal. He therefore hastened to the palace to congratulate the queen on the battle of Lens, determined beforehand to act with or against the court, as his congratulations were well or ill received.
The coadjutor possessed, perhaps, as much wit as all those put together who were assembled at the court to laugh at him. ”

“ As for the remission of your sins, we have the archbishop of Paris, who has the very greatest power at the court of Rome, and even the coadjutor, who possesses some plenary indulgences; we will recommend you to him."
"Consider, Maillard," said the curate, "that I have recommended you to this gentleman, who is a powerful lord, and that I have made myself responsible for you." ”

“ The coadjutor started.
"Oh! let us speak frankly," continued Louvieres, "and act in a straightforward manner. Thirty thousand crowns in alms is not given, as you have done for the last six months, out of pure Christian charity; that would be too grand. You are ambitious - it is natural; you are a man of genius and you know your worth. ”

“ I believe this man paid his predecessor a hundred pistoles for his."
"The rascal is rich, then?"
"Some of those men sometimes die worth twenty thousand and twenty-five and thirty thousand francs and sometimes more."
"Hum!" said Gondy, laughing; "I was not aware my alms were so well invested."
In the meantime they were advancing toward the square, and the moment the coadjutor and the curate put their feet on the first church step the mendicant arose and proffered his brush. ”

“ He was a man between sixty-six and sixty-eight years of age, little, rather stout, with gray hair and light eyes. His countenance denoted the struggle between two opposite principles - a wicked nature, subdued by determination, perhaps by repentance. ”