accidentally win the decisive battle of an epoch; let an apothecary invent cardboard shoe-soles for the army of the Sambre-and-Meuse, and construct for himself, out of this cardboard, sold as leather, four hundred thousand francs of income; let a pork-packer espouse usury, and cause it to bring forth seven or eight millions, of which he is the father and of which it is the mother; let a preacher become a bishop by force of his nasal drawl; let the steward of a fine family be so rich on retiring from service that he is made minister of finances,--and men call that Genius, just as they call the face of Mousqueton Beauty, and the mien of Claude Majesty.
With the constellations of space they confound the stars of the abyss which are made in the soft mire of the puddle by the feet of ducks.
BOOK FIRST--A JUST MAN
CHAPTER XIII
WHAT HE BELIEVED
We are not obliged to sound the Bishop of D---- on the score of orthodoxy.
In the presence of such a soul we feel ourselves in no mood but respect.
The conscience of the just man should be accepted on his word.
Moreover, certain natures being given, we admit the possible development of all beauties of human virtue in a belief that differs from our own.
What did he think of this dogma, or of that mystery?
These secrets of the inner tribunal of the conscience are known only to the tomb, where souls enter naked.