V

THE INFLUENCE OF BOOKS

The book, like all books frequently read, opened in a particular
place. Godefroid sat down as if to put his ideas in order, for he had
gone through more emotion during this one morning than he had often
done in the agitated months of his life; but above all, his curiosity
was keenly excited. Letting his eyes fall by chance, as people will
when their souls are launched in meditation, they rested mechanically
on the two open pages of the book; almost unconsciously he read the
following heading:--


CHAPTER XII.

THE ROYAL WAY OF THE HOLY CROSS

He took up the book; a sentence of that noble chapter caught his eye
like a flash of light:--

"He has walked before thee, bearing his cross; he died for thee,
that thou mightest bear thy cross, and be glad to die upon it.

"Go where thou wilt, seek what thou wilt, never canst thou find a
nobler, surer path than the royal way of the holy cross.