too easy, and he added to those enjoined by his directors continual
mortifications of his own devising, so that even Tartufe himself would
have owned his superiority.

He wore about him two shrouds, to which were fastened relics of Madame de
Chantal, also a medal of St. Francois de Saps, and occasionally scourged
himself. His mistress related that he had begged her to take a sitting
at the church of St. Nicholas, in order that he might more easily attend
service when he had a day out, and had brought her a small sum which he
had saved, to pay half the expense.

Moreover, he had slept upon straw during the whole of Lent, and took care
that Madame Legrand heard of this through the servant, pretending at
first to hide it as if it were something wrong. He tried to prevent the
maid from going into his room, and when she found out the straw he
forbade her to mention it--which naturally made her more anxious to
relate her discovery. Such a piece of piety, combined with such
meritorious humility, such dread of publicity, could only increase the
excellent opinion which everyone already had of him.

Every day was marked by some fresh hypocrisy. One of his sisters, a
novice in the convent of the Ladies of the Visitation of the Virgin, was
to take the veil at Easter. Derues obtained permission to be present at
the ceremony, and was to start on foot on Good Friday. When he departed,
the shop happened to be full of people, and the gossips of the
neighbourhood inquired where he was going. Madame Legrand desired him to
have a glass of liqueur (wine he never touched) and something to eat
before starting.

"Oh, madame!" he exclaimed, "do you think I could eat on a day like this,