In the Library with M. Jerome Coignard--A Conversation on Morals--
Taken to M. d'Asterac's Study--Salamanders again--The Solar Powder--
A Visit and its Consequences.


The thought of Catherine occupied my mind all the week following
that vexatious adventure. Her image glittered on the leaves of the
folios over which I bent in the library, close to my dear tutor; so
much so that Plotinus, Olympiodorus, Fabricius, Vossius spoke of
nothing else to me than a tiny damsel in a lace chemise. These
visions rendered me lazy. But, indulgent to others, as to himself,
M. Jerome Coignard had a kind smile for my trouble and distraction.

"Jacques Tournebroche," he said to me, one day, "are you not struck
by the variations in morals during the course of the centuries? The
books in this admirable Asteracian collection witness to the
uncertainties of mankind on this subject. If I reflect upon it, my
son, it is to put into your mind that solid and salutary idea that
no good morals are to be found outside religion, and that the maxims
of the philosophers, who pretend to institute a natural morality,
are nothing but whims and babblings of foolish trash. The
rationality of good morals is not to be found in nature, which in
itself is indifferent, ignorant of good or evil. It is in the divine
word, which is not to be trespassed against without after regret.
The laws of humanity are based on utility, and that can only be an
apparent and illusory utility, for nobody knows naturally what is
useful to mankind, nor what is really appropriate to them. And we
must not forget that our habits contain a good moiety of articles
which are of prejudice alone. Upheld by the menace of chastisement,
human laws may be eluded by cunning and dissimulation. Every man