The Three Cities Trilogy: Rome | Page 8

in that poor district had developed infinite compassion in
his breast, his heart failed him, distracted, rent by contemplation of the
misery which he despaired of healing. And in this awakening of his
feelings he often thought that his reason was giving way, he seemed to
be retracing his steps towards childhood, to that need of universal love
which his mother had implanted in him, and dreamt of chimerical
solutions, awaiting help from the unknown powers. Then his fears, his
hatred of the brutality of facts at last brought him an increasing desire
to work salvation by love. No time should be lost in seeking to avert
the frightful catastrophe which seemed inevitable, the fratricidal war of
classes which would sweep the old world away beneath the
accumulation of its crimes. Convinced that injustice had attained its
apogee, that but little time remained before the vengeful hour when the
poor would compel the rich to part with their possessions, he took
pleasure in dreaming of a peaceful solution, a kiss of peace exchanged
by all men, a return to the pure morals of the Gospel as it had been
preached by Jesus.
Doubts tortured him at the outset. Could olden Catholicism be
rejuvenated, brought back to the youth and candour of primitive

Christianity? He set himself to study things, reading and questioning,
and taking a more and more passionate interest in that great problem of
Catholic socialism which had made no little noise for some years past.
And quivering with pity for the wretched, ready as he was for the
miracle of fraternisation, he gradually lost such scruples as intelligence
might have prompted, and persuaded himself that once again Christ
would work the redemption of suffering humanity. At last a precise
idea took possession of him, a conviction that Catholicism purified,
brought back to its original state, would prove the one pact, the
supreme law that might save society by averting the sanguinary crisis
which threatened it.
When he had quitted Lourdes two years previously, revolted by all its
gross idolatry, his faith for ever dead, but his mind worried by the
everlasting need of the divine which tortures human creatures, a cry
had arisen within him from the deepest recesses of his being: "A new
religion! a new religion!" And it was this new religion, or rather this
revived religion which he now fancied he had discovered in his desire
to work social salvation--ensuring human happiness by means of the
only moral authority that was erect, the distant outcome of the most
admirable implement ever devised for the government of nations.
During the period of slow development through which Pierre passed,
two men, apart from Abbe Rose, exercised great influence on him. A
benevolent action brought him into intercourse with Monseigneur
Bergerot, a bishop whom the Pope had recently created a cardinal, in
reward for a whole life of charity, and this in spite of the covert
opposition of the papal /curia/ which suspected the French prelate to be
a man of open mind, governing his diocese in paternal fashion. Pierre
became more impassioned by his intercourse with this apostle, this
shepherd of souls, in whom he detected one of the good simple leaders
that he desired for the future community. However, his apostolate was
influenced even more decisively by meeting Viscount Philibert de la
Choue at the gatherings of certain workingmen's Catholic associations.
A handsome man, with military manners, and a long noble-looking face,
spoilt by a small and broken nose which seemed to presage the ultimate
defeat of a badly balanced mind, the Viscount was one of the most

active agitators of Catholic socialism in France. He was the possessor
of vast estates, a vast fortune, though it was said that some unsuccessful
agricultural enterprises had already reduced his wealth by nearly
one-half. In the department where his property was situated he had
been at great pains to establish model farms, at which he had put his
ideas on Christian socialism into practice, but success did not seem to
follow him. However, it had all helped to secure his election as a
deputy, and he spoke in the Chamber, unfolding the programme of his
party in long and stirring speeches.
Unwearying in his ardour, he also led pilgrimages to Rome, presided
over meetings, and delivered lectures, devoting himself particularly to
the people, the conquest of whom, so he privately remarked, could
alone ensure the triumph of the Church. And thus he exercised
considerable influence over Pierre, who in him admired qualities which
himself did not possess--an organising spirit and a militant if somewhat
blundering will, entirely applied to the revival of Christian society in
France. However, though the young priest learnt a good deal by
associating with him, he nevertheless remained a sentimental dreamer,
whose imagination, disdainful of political