"Excellent!" cried the abbe, "no better plan could be devised. Mlle. Helena shall call the girl's attention to you, and you will make an admirable impression from the very first. A very clever idea, my dear Celestin, a very clever idea!" "Don't give me the credit of it, my dear abbe," replied Celestin, with ironical modesty. "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's." "And to what Caesar am I to attribute this admirable idea for a first interview?" "To the author of these lines, my dear abbe." And in a sardonic tone, M. de Macreuse repeated: "'Ah, if you had but seen him as I first saw him, You would feel for him the same fondness that I feel. Each day to church he came with gentle air, To kneel devoutly right before me, And attracted the gaze of all assembled there, By the sincerity and ardour of his prayer.' "You see everything has been planned for me, even to offering the holy water on leaving the church," added Macreuse. "And yet, people persist in declaring that the writings of this impious playwright are immoral and reprehensible." "That's pretty good, upon my word!" cried the abbe, laughing heartily. "Well, Heaven speed the good cause, whatever may be the weapons used! You have everything to hope for, my dear Celestin. You are clever and persevering, and more likely to make a favourable impression on the orphan than any one I know. I would advise, however, that you be extremely careful about your dress. Let it be rich, but not gaudy, and characterised always by that elegant simplicity which is the perfection of good taste. Let me look at you a minute, Yes," continued the abbe, after scrutinising the young man closely for a moment, "you had better give a slight wave to your hair instead of wearing it smooth. It takes something more than fine talk to captivate a young girl's fancy." "Oh, you need feel no uneasiness, my dear abbe, I understand all those little matters. I know, too, that the greatest victories are often won by trivial means. And success in this instance means the most delightful and blissful future of which man ever dreamed," exclaimed Celestin, his eyes sparkling joyously. "And you will attain this success, for all the resources at our disposal--and they are immense--will be employed, if need be." "Ah, my indebtedness to you will be immeasurable." "And your success will not benefit you alone!" "What do you mean by that, my dear abbe?" "I mean that your success will have an enormous, an incalculable influence. Yes, all those fine young gentlemen who pose as freethinkers, all the lukewarm, all the indifferent, who uphold us but weakly, will see what one gains by being with us, for us, and of us. These advantages have also been demonstrated to some extent, I think, by the very enviable position--especially for one of your years and of--of your--obscure birth--" added the abbe, blushing a little, and Celestin somehow seemed to share this embarrassment.