sense, and you'll exclusively study to satisfy divine justice."

I could not help feeling the elevated wisdom enshrined in the maxims
of my dear, good tutor; I was only afraid that these morals, should
they be exercised without discrimination, would carry man to a
disorderly life. I unfolded my doubts to M. Jerome Coignard, who
reassured me in the following terms:

"Jacobus Tournebroche, you do not take note of what I have just
expressly told you, to wit, that what you call disorder is only such
in the opinion of laymen and judges in law--ordinary and
ecclesiastical--and in its bearing on human laws, which are
arbitrary and transitory, and, in a word, to follow these laws is
the act of a silly soul. A sensible man does not pride himself on
acting according to the rules in force at the Chatelet and at the
gaol.

"He is uneasy about his salvation, and does not think himself
dishonoured by going to heaven by indirect ways as followed by the
greatest saints. If the blessed Pelagie had not followed the same
profession by which Jeannette, the hurdy-gurdy player you know,
earned her living, under the portico of the Church of Saint Benoit
le Betourne, that saint would not have been compelled to do full and
copious penitence; and it is extremely probable that, after having
lived in indifferent and banal chastity, she would not, at this very
moment speak of her, be playing the psaltery before the tabernacle
where the Holy of Holies reposes in his glory. Do you call disorder,
so fine a regulation of a predestinated life? Certainly not! Leave
such mean ways of speech to the Superintendent of Police, who after
his death will hardly find the smallest place behind the