48 Les Miserables
wolves!’
‘Monsieur le maire, it may be that it is of this very flock
of wolves that Jesus has constituted me the shepherd. Who
knows the ways of Providence?’
‘They will rob you, Monseigneur.’
‘I have nothing.’
‘They will kill you.’
‘An old goodman of a priest, who passes along mum-
bling his prayers? Bah! To what purpose?’
‘Oh, mon Dieu! what if you should meet them!’
‘I should beg alms of them for my poor.’
‘Do not go, Monseigneur. In the name of Heaven! You
are risking your life!’
‘Monsieur le maire,’ said the Bishop, ‘is that really all?
I am not in the world to guard my own life, but to guard
sou ls.’
They had to allow him to do as he pleased. He set out, ac-
companied only by a child who offered to serve as a guide.
His obstinacy was bruited about the country-side, and
caused great consternation.
He would take neither his sister nor Madame Magloire.
He traversed the mountain on mule-back, encountered
no one, and arrived safe and sound at the residence of his
‘good friends,’ the shepherds. He remained there for a fort-
night, preaching, administering the sacrament, teaching,
exhorting. When the time of his departure approached, he
resolved to chant a Te Deum pontifically. He mentioned it to
the cure. But what was to be done? There were no episcopal
ornaments. They could only place at his disposal a wretched